Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-29
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 5.5)
Some individuals argue that having a lot of money is the main key to be happy in this life. Having much money can lead to happiness in the person's life. However, there are a lot of things in this life can make them happier.
To begin with, to be happy in this life, the person needs plenty of things, such as having a lot of money. When someone is wealthy, he can afford everything to himself and his family without any problems. Since he has a huge income and wealth. That means the person who is rich or he works in a fascinating position like a businessman. His life becomes more easy and happier than the others. For instance, he can spend fancy holidays in any country worldwide, also he can buy anything he wants without any hesitation or thinking about the lack of budget. Such as, buying clothes, shoes, wrist watches, and bags from popular brands. So, having a lot of money in our lives can make us delighted and relaxed in our lifestyles.
However, there are other things that can make people happy in their lives rather than money. Which means in this life it is true that having a lot of money can make us happy. But money can not buy everythings. Love, friendship, and family relationships can not be bought with money. For example, some people are wealthy but they are apart in the same house. Therefore, living in a family atmosphere with love and empathy can also make the individuals happy rather than having money.
In conclusion, people can be happy and living an easy life by having much money and wealth. However, paying attention to other things like family relationships can make them feel the same way.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
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 the ability to afford luxuries and the importance of family relationships. However, the development is somewhat repetitive and relies on simple examples. The position is clear, but the explanation lacks depth. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why' behind your points rather than just listing examples. For instance, instead of just listing items like 'watches' and 'bags', explain how financial security reduces stress and allows for personal growth or experiences.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'For instance'. However, some transitions feel mechanical, and there are instances of sentence fragments or awkward phrasing that disrupt the flow, such as 'Since he has a huge income and wealth. That means...'. Improving the connection between sentences by using more varied linking words and ensuring that each sentence is grammatically complete will significantly improve the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat basic and repetitive. You frequently use simple terms like 'a lot of money', 'happy', and 'things'. While you attempt some topic-specific vocabulary like 'wealth', 'income', and 'empathy', the range is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations. For example, instead of repeating 'happy', use 'contentment', 'well-being', or 'fulfillment'. Additionally, avoid using 'everythings' as it is grammatically incorrect; 'everything' is an uncountable noun.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'there are a lot of things... can make') and sentence fragments (e.g., 'Since he has a huge income and wealth.'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the misuse of full stops where commas or conjunctions would be more appropriate. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors will help.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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