Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-25

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people.

Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

In the contemporary era, young people in few nations are in more number in comparison to older people. There are several pros and cons of this situation which will be discussed in this essay, considering that the advantages outweighs the disadvantages.

On the one hand, a country would lack experienced citizens, if the number of old people exists in few. Young people are less experienced and they have limited exposure to a variety of circumstances. Alternatively, older citizens bring more experiences which would be useful for guiding the young people in different situations. The decisions made by the younger generation might not be accurate without the proper guidance and feedback from the older group. For instance, a government consisting of a young cabinet, which has never tackled an economic recession, could make mistakes in decision-making without the proper direction from the experienced ones. Thus, older population can play an significant role in advising the younger generation.

On the other hand, a country with a plenty of younger population would witness a massive economic growth. Firstly, people at young age generally engage in jobs and businesses. They are the working group of people who pay a substantial amount of taxes to the government and involve in research and innovation . As they provide their contribution towards different sectors of the country, increase in their number would provide the government with a massive amount of tax revenues and innovative technologies. As a result, the economic growth rate of the country would rise. For example, a country with a lot of young people would have access to a large number of manpower who could be utilized in different sectors for attaining economic prosperity.

In conclusion, the increasing number of young people in the country would assist the country to attain economic growth which outshines the disadvantage of reduction in the experienced population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments regarding the disadvantages (lack of experience) and advantages (economic growth) are relevant and extended. However, the development is slightly uneven; the argument for economic growth is more thoroughly supported with specific examples of tax revenue and innovation than the counter-argument. While the position is clear, the essay would benefit from a more nuanced exploration of the 'disadvantages' to fully balance the discussion. Overall, the ideas are well-developed and the response is fully relevant to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two sides of the argument. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Alternatively,' 'Firstly,' and 'As a result' are used to guide the reader through the text. While the progression is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Referencing is mostly clear, although the opening sentence is slightly awkward in its phrasing, which impacts the flow of the introduction. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'economic recession,' 'innovative technologies,' and 'economic prosperity' are used appropriately. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'in more number' instead of 'more numerous' and 'a plenty of younger population' which is grammatically incorrect. Despite these occasional errors, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication. The student attempts to use less common items, showing a reasonable level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, but there are persistent errors in articles and phrasing, such as 'in few nations' (should be 'in a few nations') and 'an significant role' (should be 'a significant role'). Additionally, the sentence 'if the number of old people exists in few' is awkward and grammatically weak. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the reader's understanding of the main points. The student demonstrates enough control to communicate complex ideas effectively.

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