Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-30

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 TODAYS TIME WHERE THE POPULATION OF SOME COUNTIRES HAVE LARGER NUMER OF YOUTH AS COMPARE TO OLD PEOPLE.

One major advantage is that young adults can contribute significantly to a country’s economy. Most people in this age group are physically active and able to work, which means they can fill a wide range of jobs and contribute to economic growth through their productivity and taxes. In addition, young people are generally more willing to learn new skills and adapt to technological changes. This can help businesses become more innovative and competitive. For example, countries with a large working-age population can benefit from a growing workforce in industries such as technology, manufacturing and services.

Another benefit is that a younger population can reduce the pressure on social welfare systems. In countries where there are fewer elderly people, the government may spend less money on pensions and healthcare for an ageing population. As a result, more public funds can potentially be invested in education, infrastructure and other areas that support long-term development.

However, having a large number of young adults can also create problems. If a country does not generate enough employment opportunities, young people may experience unemployment or be forced to leave their home country in search of better prospects. Furthermore, governments may need to invest heavily in education, housing and healthcare to meet the needs of a growing population.

In conclusion, despite the potential problems associated with unemployment and increased demand for public services, I believe that a large young population is more beneficial overall because it provides a strong workforce and can contribute considerably to economic development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, such as the economic contribution of young adults and the reduction of pressure on welfare systems. The counter-argument regarding unemployment and infrastructure costs is also well-integrated. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific examples or deeper analysis of the long-term societal implications, as some points remain slightly general. However, the response is well-focused and maintains a consistent position throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'As a result', and 'However' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the argument well. To improve, the student could vary the cohesive devices further to avoid a slightly mechanical feel in the transition between paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses relevant topic-specific terms like 'social welfare systems', 'economic growth', and 'working-age population'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choice is generally accurate. To move up, the student should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. However, there are some minor errors, such as the opening sentence fragment ('IN TODAYS TIME...') and missing apostrophes ('TODAYS'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and pluralization (e.g., 'larger numer of youth as compare to old people'). Despite these, the meaning is never obscured, and the grammatical control is sufficient for a solid score.

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.