Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-13
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 5.0)
A majority of people argue that the major reason to become happy is to have plenty of money. In my opinion, I do agree to some extent but I still believe that there are still other reasons to be happy. In this essay, this will discuss about how might having plenty of money make us happy, and what other things can make us happy.
Firstly, many of us believe that money can buy happiness. If we have a lot of money, we can buy things that give happiness on ourselves. For example, having a lot of money without thinking about the price of our wants that we have been dreaming for long time, give ourselves happiness. Without thinking about how much we should spend, it fulfilled our long time dream that we finally got the things we wanted for so long.
Secondly, having plenty of money make ends meet. We can afford to buy some non-essential things once our priorities are met. Without thinking about those monthly bills, such as rent, foods, water, and electric bills, can let us go to other places where our families want to go. In addition, going to places with different culture and cuisines, make us happy.
On the other hand, others believe that having a family with simple life are happier rather than having plenty of money without a family. They simply enjoy life without thinking about the world.
In conclusion, we believe that having plenty of money is the only reason of happiness. However, others still believe that there are still reasons to be happy than spending too much of your time at work to earn more.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses both questions: it explains that money can provide desired purchases, cover bills, and enable family trips, then mentions family life as another source of happiness. These are relevant points, and the opening signals a qualified position. However, the position becomes unclear in the conclusion, which says money is “the only reason of happiness,” contradicting the view that other things matter. Several ideas are also only briefly explained: the family paragraph, for instance, says people “simply enjoy life” without showing how relationships or shared experiences create happiness. Develop each point with a clearer explanation or example, and keep your position consistent from introduction to conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for money-related benefits and family life, and a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “On the other hand” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, progression is limited because the two money paragraphs overlap, and the final paragraph introduces family life briefly without developing it. Some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “In this essay, this will discuss” and the transition from travel to the contrast about family. The conclusion also does not follow logically from the stated position. Give each paragraph a distinct central idea, connect explanations more explicitly, and use references and transitions that make the relationship between points clear.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main ideas, with relevant expressions such as “monthly bills,” “non-essential things,” “priorities,” and “different culture and cuisines.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, including repeated use of “plenty of money” and “happy.” Some collocations are unnatural, such as “give happiness on ourselves” and “having a family with simple life.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less clear, even though the general message can be understood. Aim for more precise language about financial security, relationships, and wellbeing, and check that words combine naturally. The suggestions below offer alternatives that fit the ideas you are expressing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including conditional forms such as “If we have a lot of money” and a contrast introduced by “On the other hand.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur in many sentences. For example, “having plenty of money make ends meet” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “In this essay, this will discuss” has an unclear subject and faulty sentence construction. The sentence beginning “Without thinking about those monthly bills” is also left without a clear main clause. These errors can make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Practise building complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check agreement and clause structure before adding extra detail.
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.