Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-02

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 people think that life is happy if they have a lot of money, but some people say that a lot of money brings happiness in their life. There are many things which makes people happy. I will share my both view of points.

On the one hand side, to be happy in life, people need money because without money we cannot survive in every sector like as for grocery, education, rent and so many things. Its a basic thing to fulfill dreams with money. Everyone wants good lifestyle in their life. They want to complete their dreams like as expensive car, branded clothes and many things which they can buy through the money.

But on the other side, good health, good friends and family are not brought with money. We cannot buy love with money. Having a lot of money cannot buy smile. For example, some people are really rich but they have not good health. They cannot buy good body with money.

According my view of point, have a lot of money feel people be happy but there are many things which are not buy with money.

Conclusion, Although money is important to fulfill dreams and enjoy good lifestyle but money cannot buy people's emotional and love and take care.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both questions: money can provide necessities and help people pursue goals, while health, family, friendship and love are presented as other sources of happiness. However, the discussion is brief and the ideas are only partly developed. The examples of an expensive car and branded clothes illustrate material goals, but you do not explain how achieving them leads to lasting happiness; the point about rich people’s health is also not expanded. Your position is difficult to pin down: “a lot of money feel people be happy” does not clearly state how far you agree with the claim. The response is also 38 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to explain and support your ideas. Develop each answer with a clear explanation and a relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall arrangement: an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand” and “on the other side” help readers follow the contrast between money and non-material sources of happiness. However, progression within the paragraphs is limited, as several points are listed rather than connected through explanation. The introduction’s “I will share my both view of points” does not clearly preview the argument, and the conclusion repeats the contrast without bringing the position into sharper focus. Some linking phrases are also mechanical or awkward. To improve, organise each body paragraph around one main idea, explain it, and then give an example; use clear references and a concise concluding statement.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough basic vocabulary to communicate the main topic, including “survive,” “dreams,” “good health,” and “family.” There are also relevant topic words such as “education,” “rent,” and “lifestyle.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated, especially “a lot of money,” “good,” and “with money.” Some word combinations are unnatural or unclear, such as “complete their dreams,” “buy smile,” and “emotional and love and take care,” which make parts of the message difficult to interpret. Aim for more precise expressions and natural collocations, such as “achieve their ambitions,” “bring joy,” and “emotional support.” Vary repeated terms by using “wealth,” “financial security,” or “material possessions” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrastive structure beginning “Although money is important…” and a conditional idea with “without money.” However, the range remains limited, and errors in sentence formation and agreement occur frequently enough to affect clarity. For example, “There are many things which makes people happy” needs subject–verb agreement, while “According my view of point, have a lot of money feel people be happy” lacks a clear grammatical structure. The final sentence also has an incomplete contrast because “Although” is not followed by a main clause. Practise building accurate subject–verb–object sentences first, then combine them with clauses using “because,” “although,” and “while.” Check articles, verb forms and sentence boundaries during revision.

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.