Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-18

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 7.0)

In many modern societies, demographics are shifting toward a younger population, resulting in a significantly higher number of young adults compared to elderly citizens. While this trend introduces certain socio-economic challenges, I firmly believe that the advantages of having a youthful populace far outweigh the disadvantages. On the one hand, a population dominated by young adults can place an immediate strain on a nation’s infrastructure. The primary drawback is the intense competition for entry-level employment. If a country’s economy fails to generate jobs at the same pace as population growth, it can lead to widespread youth unemployment and subsequent social unrest. Furthermore, governments must redirect massive financial resources toward expanding educational institutions, housing, and entry-level healthcare, which can drain national budgets. For instance, several developing nations in South Asia struggle to accommodate millions of graduates entering the job market annually.On the other hand, the long-term economic and societal benefits of a young population are immense. A large demographic of young adults provides a vibrant, dynamic workforce that drives economic productivity and attracts foreign investment. Unlike aging societies, these nations benefit from high tax revenues and a lower fiscal burden regarding pension payouts and elderly healthcare. Moreover, young adults are naturally more adaptable, technologically savvy, and inclined toward innovation and entrepreneurship. Developing nations like India have leveraged their youth demographic dividend to become global hubs for technology and start-ups, demonstrating how a young workforce can accelerate economic development. In conclusion, a disproportionately young population does present challenges regarding job scarcity and public infrastructure strain. However, these are manageable hurdles compared to the severe economic stagnation faced by aging nations. The capacity for innovation, sustained economic productivity, and financial vitality brought by young adults ensures that the benefits of this demographic layout heavily outweigh the drawbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by exploring both the disadvantages and the advantages of a young adult population. A clear position is maintained throughout the response, starting from the introduction and reinforced in the conclusion. Ideas are well developed and extended with relevant examples, such as mentioning developing nations in South Asia and India to support arguments regarding job scarcity and economic innovation. The position is well-supported and meets the criteria for Band 7.5 to 8.0, balancing the nuanced discussion of infrastructure strain versus economic vitality effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The student uses appropriate paragraphing, dividing the introduction, disadvantages, advantages, and conclusion distinctly. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and effectively to guide the reader through the arguments, as seen with phrases like 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover'. Referencing is clear and logical, resulting in a cohesive structure that fully supports the flow of ideas without any noticeable mechanical errors in sequencing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student exhibits a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic essay. Less common items such as 'socio-economic challenges', 'youth demographic dividend', 'economic stagnation', and 'infrastructure strain' are used accurately and with good awareness of collocation. Word choices are precise, and although there is a slight tendency to rely on standard academic phrasing, the control over lexical features easily satisfies the requirements for Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

A wide variety of complex sentence structures are utilised successfully throughout the text. The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include conditional clauses ('If a country’s economy fails...') and participial phrases ('resulting in a significantly higher number...'). Only occasional, minor imperfections appear, but these do not impede communication at all, placing the essay comfortably at Band 8.0.

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