Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-19

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 8.0)

While some argue that the underpinning of living a happier life is access to substantial wealth, I strongly believe that possessing wealth does not give happiness alone. To my way of thinking, physical and mental health, and meaningful family connections are more crucial in life, as those who are sick or alone cannot enjoy their lives despite having unlimited wealth.

The primary catalyst behind the phenomenon of prioritizing money to pursue happiness is that most of the materialistic things in life can be purchased with money. If people have ample money, they can buy whatever they want, live wherever they wish and travel the world without worrying about spending. Furthermore, since some philanthropists can donate some of their wealth to the needy, they can help the under-privileged demographics and earn a good reputation in society.

On the contrary, I believe there are other aspects in life such as health and love, which are more valuable than wealth. Both mental and physical are imperative to enjoy anything else in life. This is because if individuals are not healthy, no amount of money can bring happiness in their lives. Another elixir of living a happy life is true love which we can only get from meaningful connections. Loyal friends and loving family members cannot be purchased in any market, but are achieved through blessings and destinies. If someone lacks such relations, no wealth can substitute the emptiness in their lives. For instance, the owner of renowned 'Kate Spade' committed suicide, as she suffered from depression. This proves that despite enormous riches people are not always happy.

To sum up, although wealth has the power to buy unmatched comfort in a materialistic world, if people lack good health and meaningful relations, money alone can never make someone truly happy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The first body paragraph explains how money facilitates happiness through material acquisition and philanthropy, while the second body paragraph introduces alternative sources of happiness such as health and relationships. The ideas are well-developed and supported with a relevant example regarding Kate Spade. The response is balanced and provides a clear, logical argument that fully satisfies the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the focus on money and the focus on other factors is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'On the contrary', and 'To sum up' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of the argument is easy to follow. The use of referencing is generally clear, contributing to a coherent overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including some sophisticated items such as 'underpinning', 'catalyst', 'imperative', and 'elixir'. The word choice is generally precise and fits the context well. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is strong, incorporating a few more idiomatic expressions or more nuanced collocations could elevate the response further. Overall, the range is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If people have ample money...') and relative clauses effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, with only very minor slips, such as the phrase 'Both mental and physical are imperative', which would be better phrased as 'Both mental and physical health are imperative'. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your arguments. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing a high level of control.

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