Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-23

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 6.0)

I agree with the statement that some people see money as the main source of their happiness. I have seen quite a lot of people in my surroundings as well who say that having money brings them joy. I like to beileve that different things can make different people happy. For example; some people feel happy when they purchase the latest iphone or a designer bag while presence of loved ones and family is enough to make other people happy. Similarly, some people love luxurious international travels every year while others are happy with just their netflix and popcorns on the couch.

In my opinion, there are so many simpler things that can make one happy like helping someone in need, taking care of the elderly, cooking food for someone you love, watching a show in pajamas, reading a book while having your favorite cappucino and so on. But should we judge people who want money to feel happiness? absolutely not. I believe the people who always had lesser of it in life know the difficulties they faced because of the lack of it; so when they have it, they feel relaxed which is actually a form of happiness. A missed public bus, an expensive medicine they can't buy for their sick family member, a doll-house a father can't get for his daughter, a dress a girl want to have for herself for a party; these all are examples of the circumstances money can make better.

So I'd say money is nice to have, its important but it can not bring happiness to every person in the world. Money can only facilitate it, people need to feel happy from within to be truly happy in their lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both parts of the question: you explain how money can reduce practical hardship, using examples such as medicine for a sick family member, and identify other sources of happiness, including loved ones, helping others, and simple leisure activities. Your position is clear in the conclusion: money can facilitate happiness but cannot guarantee it. The range of examples and the recognition that people value different things show some of the breadth expected at the next level. However, the explanation of how money itself creates happiness is less developed than the discussion of non-financial pleasures; for instance, you could explain more directly how financial security reduces stress or gives people greater choice. Extending that reasoning would make the response more consistently developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall shape: an opening that introduces differing preferences, a paragraph of examples, and a conclusion that restates your view. Ideas are generally easy to follow, and transitions such as “Similarly,” “But,” and “So” help connect points. However, the first paragraph moves quickly through several contrasting examples without clearly grouping or explaining them, and the second paragraph combines simple pleasures with financial hardship, making its focus less consistent. Some linking is also mechanical, particularly the repeated “some people” structure. Organise the body into distinct points—how money improves security, then what non-financial sources bring happiness—and use clearer references between sentences to strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to discuss money, happiness, and everyday life, including phrases such as “source of their happiness,” “people in need,” and “lack of it.” The concrete examples make your meaning clear, and the contrast between “luxurious international travels” and “netflix and popcorns” gives the response a personal voice. There are, however, some spelling and word-choice or collocation slips, including “beileve,” “cappucino,” and “popcorns.” Phrases such as “in my surroundings” and “feel happiness” are understandable but not fully natural in this context. Aim for more precise, conventional expressions and check spelling, especially in less familiar words, to make your vocabulary more controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “while” and a conditional idea in “when they have it, they feel relaxed.” Most sentences communicate your meaning, but some grammatical and punctuation errors remain. For example, “a dress a girl want” needs subject–verb agreement (“wants”), and “these all are examples” has an awkward demonstrative structure. The sentence beginning “A missed public bus” is a list of fragments rather than a complete sentence, while “But should we judge…? absolutely not” needs appropriate sentence punctuation and capitalisation. Review agreement, complete sentence construction, and punctuation around lists and questions; these corrections would improve accuracy without sacrificing your varied sentence patterns.

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

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