Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Many countries today have a large proportion of young adults compared with older people. In my opinion, the advantages of this demographic pattern outweigh the disadvantages.

The main benefit is economic. A large working-age population means more people are employed, paying taxes and spending money, which stimulates growth. Governments can also spend less on pensions and healthcare for the elderly and invest in infrastructure and education instead. India is a good example: its young workforce has helped attract foreign companies and fuelled rapid growth in the technology sector. In addition, young people tend to be more adaptable and open to innovation, which helps societies keep pace with technological change.

However, this situation is not without drawbacks. If a country cannot create enough jobs, high youth unemployment may follow, leading to poverty, frustration and even social unrest. This has happened in parts of North Africa, where educated but unemployed young people have contributed to political instability. Furthermore, a very young population puts pressure on schools, housing and public services, which developing countries may struggle to fund.

Even so, I believe these problems can be managed, whereas the risks of the opposite situation are harder to solve. Countries with ageing populations such as Japan face labour shortages and a shrinking tax base, and these are difficult to reverse. By contrast, a young population is a resource that governments can develop through investments in education, vocational training and job creation.

In conclusion, although a large number of young adults can cause unemployment and strain public services, the economic potential and dynamism they bring are more significant. With sound planning, this demographic advantage can benefit the whole of society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of having a large proportion of young adults, and presents a clear position throughout that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Main ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as referencing India's technology sector for economic growth and parts of North Africa regarding youth unemployment and political instability. The comparison with ageing populations in countries like Japan further extends and strengthens the argument. The response meets all the requirements of Band 7 and exhibits strong qualities of Band 8 by maintaining well-developed ideas without unnecessary digressions, successfully balancing the economic benefits against social challenges.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The text exhibits clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction and economic benefits to the drawbacks, comparative analysis with ageing societies, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly without being overly mechanical, as seen in transitions like 'The main benefit is economic', 'However, this situation is not without drawbacks', and 'By contrast'. Paragraphing is used logically and appropriately to structure the argument. The progression of ideas is very easy to follow, making this a strong performance characteristic of Band 8.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common lexical items and collocations are used effectively, such as 'demographic pattern', 'working-age population', 'stimulates growth', 'social unrest', and 'shrinking tax base'. Word choice is mostly precise, and collocation is natural throughout the essay. There are no notable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the range is competent and meets Band 7 criteria comfortably, it stops just short of the consistently sophisticated and fluent control required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a wide variety of complex sentence structures with good control. Examples include conditional structures ('If a country cannot create enough jobs...') and participial clauses ('...educated but unemployed young people have contributed to political instability'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled accurately. Grammar and mechanics do not interfere with readability at any point. The command of complex structures coupled with high grammatical accuracy firmly places this response in the Band 8 category.

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