Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-27
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 5.5)
As of 2026, India has become one of the most populated country in the world.The average age in India is 29 years. The average age of a country contributes a lot to the economy of that particular country.I would express my opinion after stating both advantages and disadvantages.
The pros of having large number of youth population in a country boosts productive growth, young minds contribute develop advancements in various fields such as academia, research, scientific and business as compared to older people. For example, India , having a large number of youth has helped developed various startups. Few governments provide financial aid to these startups to help them grow pan country. These countries aim to produce their own goods, like 'local to global' and in Hindi 'aatmanirbhar' ,the latter meaning to produce ourselves or grow in our own country.
Many bright minds are now working in government or in private sector to innovate.For example, to avoid borrowing petrol and other liquid fuels from other countries, currently research on green hydrogen as a renewable fuel is going on where a lot of bright minds from engineering, science and other fields have joined.
The disadvantages of a country having more number of adults is migration rate. Many adults migrate to other developed countries in search of better life. One of the other reason is as there are large number of youth, many adults are left unemployed which increases a country's unemployment rate.
I believe, that the advantages do not outweigh the disadvantages as it brings poverty, unemployment and illiteracy.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages of a large youth population. However, the development is inconsistent. While the advantages are supported with examples like startups and green hydrogen, the disadvantages are mentioned briefly without sufficient depth or specific examples. Furthermore, the conclusion contradicts the earlier points; you argue that the advantages do not outweigh the disadvantages, but your body paragraphs focus heavily on the positive economic contributions of youth. To reach a higher band, ensure your position is consistent throughout and provide balanced, well-developed arguments for both sides of the debate.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'One of the other reason is as there are large number of youth' is clunky and lacks grammatical flow. Additionally, the logical progression between the introduction and the body paragraphs is weak. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'conversely') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that directly relates to your overall position.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'productive growth', 'financial aid', and 'renewable fuel'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'most populated country' (should be 'most populous') and 'produce ourselves' (which is unclear). Some vocabulary is repetitive, and the attempt to incorporate Hindi terms like 'aatmanirbhar' is interesting but requires better integration into the English sentence structure to be effective. Focus on using more precise collocations and academic terminology to enhance the sophistication of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the pros of having large number of youth population... boosts' (subject-verb agreement error), 'India , having a large number' (punctuation error), and 'One of the other reason is' (pluralization error). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement, article usage, and correct punctuation to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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