Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-28

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 7.5)

Many people believe that having a large amount of money is the main way to achieve happiness. Although wealth can certainly improve people’s lives, I believe that happiness depends on several other important factors as well.

Having a lot of money can make people happy because it provides financial security and freedom. Wealthy people are less likely to worry about paying bills, buying food, or dealing with unexpected expenses. They can also afford comfortable homes, good healthcare, holidays, and enjoyable experiences. For example, a person with a high income may be able to travel around the world with their family, creating memorable experiences without worrying about the cost. Money can also give people greater freedom to choose a career they enjoy rather than working only to survive.

However, money alone cannot guarantee happiness. Strong relationships with family and friends are often more valuable because people need love, companionship, and emotional support. Spending time with people we care about can provide a sense of belonging that money cannot buy. Good health is another major source of happiness. Someone who is physically and mentally healthy can enjoy everyday activities, while even a wealthy person may be unhappy if they suffer from serious health problems.

In addition, having a meaningful purpose in life can make people happier. For instance, helping others, achieving personal goals, or doing work that one enjoys can create satisfaction and self-esteem.

In conclusion, money can increase happiness by providing security, comfort, and freedom, but relationships, health, and a meaningful life are equally, if not more, important.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You clearly explain how money contributes to happiness through security and freedom, and you provide a balanced view by discussing other essential factors like relationships, health, and purpose. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout. Ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of travel and career choice. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the discussion by exploring the potential downsides of wealth or the interplay between money and other factors, which would add more depth to your analysis.

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 benefits of money and the importance of other factors is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices, such as 'Although', 'For example', 'However', and 'In addition', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the text. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'financial security', 'unexpected expenses', and 'meaningful purpose' are used accurately and appropriately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to express your ideas with greater nuance. For instance, instead of 'good healthcare', you might use 'access to premium medical services'. Overall, the language is natural and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'Someone who is physically and mentally healthy can enjoy everyday activities, while even a wealthy person may be unhappy if they suffer from serious health problems.' Punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing good control. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as inversion or conditional forms, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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