Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-04

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 6.0)

At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults compared with the number of older people. This situation has both advantages and disadvantages. However, in my opinion, the advantages of having a young population outweigh the disadvantages.

One major advantage is that young people can contribute significantly to the economic development of a country. They are generally energetic, creative and willing to learn new skills. As a result, they can work in different industries and help increase productivity. Furthermore, young adults are often more familiar with modern technology and social media. Their knowledge can help businesses develop and enable a country to compete in the modern world.

Another benefit is that a large working-age population can provide financial support to the elderly through taxes. When more young people have jobs, the government can collect more tax revenue. This money can then be spent on important public services such as healthcare, education and transportation. In addition, young people may introduce new ideas and create new businesses, which can provide more employment opportunities for others. However, there are also some disadvantages. A large number of young adults can create serious problems if there are not enough jobs available. High unemployment may cause financial difficulties and increase social problems. Moreover, governments must spend a significant amount of money on schools, universities and training programmes to prepare young people for their future careers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages and clearly states a position. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief and lack specific examples or detailed elaboration. For instance, the point about economic development is sound but could be strengthened with a concrete example of a country experiencing this demographic shift. Because the response is under-length, it fails to fully develop the ideas to the extent required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In addition', and 'However' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages from the disadvantages. The progression of ideas is clear, though the brevity of the response makes the overall structure feel slightly underdeveloped. The transition between the advantages and the disadvantages is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the writer's line of reasoning throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. The writer uses some topic-specific terms like 'economic development', 'working-age population', and 'tax revenue'. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and lacks the sophistication or 'less common' items that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling, but the language remains fairly functional and repetitive in its structure rather than demonstrating a wide, flexible range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good level of grammatical accuracy. The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'When more young people have jobs, the government can collect more tax revenue.' There are very few grammatical errors, and punctuation is generally correct. While the range of structures is sufficient, it does not show the high degree of flexibility or the consistent use of complex structures required for a band 8 or 9. The sentences are clear and error-free for the most part, which is a strong point.

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

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