Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say the main way to be happy in life is to have a lot of money. How might having a lot of money make people happy? What other things in life can make people happy?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Happiness plays a vital role in everyone's life. Some critics argue that the fundamental way to achieve happiness is to have a good financial situation. The main reason is that people can buy anything with that money, such as luxury branded products, but other things are also required for joy, such as good relationships.

To begin with, having a lot of money can make people happy in several ways, such as financial security. People who have money do not need to worry about paying bills, buying goods, or medical expenses. This can reduce stress and allow people to focus more on other aspects of life. Moreover, money gives people more opportunities. They can travel around the world with family, finish their desires and focus more on other things rather than doing two jobs. For instance, someone who has a high-paying job can go on vacation every year and enjoy life rather than doing multiple jobs.

However, many other things are also required in life, such as relationships with family and friends who can help you whenever you need them. They are attached with emotion, love and caring. For example, in my own experience, spending time with loved ones makes me happier compared to an expensive gift.

In summary, every person has different desires for being happy; for example, some people are happy because they can buy luxury goods and financial security, but some have more value in being part of a family. A balanced life is more important for long-term happiness.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: how money contributes to happiness and what other factors are important. The ideas are relevant, such as financial security reducing stress and the importance of emotional connections. However, the development is somewhat basic. While the points are clear, they lack depth and specific, detailed examples that would elevate the response to a higher band. For instance, the discussion on 'opportunities' could have been expanded with a more concrete scenario. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points, showing a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'However', and 'In summary' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. While the use of these devices is sometimes a bit mechanical, they function well to maintain the flow of the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring the reader is never confused about the writer's intent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses some topic-specific terms like 'financial security', 'medical expenses', and 'long-term happiness'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler vocabulary. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication, but the essay lacks the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would characterize a higher band score. The phrasing is functional but lacks variety and nuance in expression.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good level of control over basic grammar, and the majority of sentences are error-free. However, there are minor inaccuracies, such as 'They are attached with emotion' (should be 'associated with' or 'based on') and 'finish their desires' (should be 'fulfill their desires'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over collocations and idiomatic phrasing. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient for this level.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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