Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-31

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)

There is an ongoing debate regarding people who believe that money is a key factor of happiness and people who have money are very contented in life. Some other things that bring satisfaction are health, stable relationships and love. Happiness is variable from individual to individual and is measured differently according to socioeconomic status.

In this current era of materialism, many people are happy when they have sufficient money to buy anything and everything they want. Money defines your class and respect which makes you a notable personality in the society. For example, people in the past were respected due to their characters, education and nobility whereas nowadays people are admired based their social status marked by wealth. Moreover, wealth cannot guarantee health and stability in relationships. Money can distract many individuals from their primary responsibilities which affect their relations and family life. Although money cannot ensure happiness, it can solve a lot of problems and provides a good lifestyle with financial security. For example, people with money can afford expensive medical facilities which is impossible for many individuals with low income.

On the other hand, many people believe that being healthy is a blessing which enables an individual to enjoy in life. Whereas others feel contended when they have a loving spouse, caring children and a stable income.

In conclusion, a balanced life which ensures mental and physical wellbeing is a key to happiness. Money is important in life to buy necessities but it cannot promise a happy life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both how money contributes to happiness and identifying other factors like health and relationships. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the point about medical facilities is well-supported, the discussion on social status and relationships is a bit general. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on your examples with more specific detail or personal insight to ensure the argument is fully developed rather than just stated. Overall, the response is relevant and covers the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is a progression of ideas from the role of money to alternative sources of happiness. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Although', and 'On the other hand' to link your points. However, the transition between the first and second paragraphs is slightly abrupt, and some sentences feel a bit disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph flows more naturally into the next would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'materialism', 'socioeconomic status', and 'wellbeing' appropriately. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'Happiness is variable from individual to individual' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'enjoy in life' (should be 'enjoy life'). While you attempt to use more sophisticated language, the control is not always consistent. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater clarity and impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'people who have money are very contented' (should be 'that people who have money are...') and 'admired based their social status' (missing 'on'). Additionally, some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'Happiness is variable'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on proofreading for small omissions like prepositions and ensuring subject-verb agreement to improve your accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.