Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
Money can buy happiness is the famous quote. Some people believe that having a lot of money is the main way to be happy while others argue that other things also matter to make people happy. This essay will highlight both the view points in the upcoming paragraphs.
On the one hand, most of the individuals feels happy with money because to fulfil any monetary dream, money is required. For instance, to eating in a luxury restaurant which makes you feel good require money. Wearing premium clothes differentiate you from others. Money can buy the comfort level which makes people feel happy. There is a famous quote 'Its better to cry in a luxury car instead on a street".
On the other hand, money cannot buy everything. There are sentiments, emotions which are linked to the personality of the individuals. It cannot be purchased with money. For example, loneliness cannot be filled with money whereas a friend accompanying them will give happiness . A person suffering from pain cannot be happy with money instead cheering from friends and family will help them to relief from pain and recover faster. In addition to this, the inner satisfaction is the major reason to be happy in this world. A person can find happiness in every situation only if they are satisfied with inner peace such as eating at home with family instead having dinner at a luxury restaurant alone.
In conclusion, happiness does not require money alone. Inner peace of individuals will help them to stay happy in every situation. However money can buy the comfort level which some people compare with the happiness but only money cannot be the main reason to be happy in life.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: how money contributes to happiness and what other factors are important. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the point about 'luxury restaurants' and 'premium clothes' is a good start, but it could be extended with more depth regarding the psychological impact of financial security. The position is clear throughout, and the essay follows a logical structure. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is supported by more detailed explanation or nuanced examples rather than just listing items.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two sides of the argument. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'In addition to this' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the awkward phrasing in the introduction regarding 'both the view points'. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'monetary dream' and 'inner satisfaction', but some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'cheering from friends' (should be 'support' or 'encouragement') and 'relief from pain' (should be 'relieve pain'). While the range is sufficient to convey meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Spelling is generally accurate, but the word choice is occasionally simplistic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('most of the individuals feels') and prepositional errors ('instead on a street'). Some sentences are also slightly awkward, such as 'to eating in a luxury restaurant... require money'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. A greater focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and refining complex sentence structures would improve the score significantly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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