Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-13

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some countries, it can be very difficult for people over the age of 50 to get good jobs, despite their experience.

What do you think are the causes of this problem, and what measures could be taken to solve it?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

In many countries, it can be difficult for people over the age of 50 to get good jobs, despite their experience. This situation creates several problems such as financial pressure on older people and loss of productivity in the workplace. However, effective measures such as stronger employment policies and financial support schemes could help address this problem.

One of the major problems of this situation is financial pressure faced by older people. This is because if a person over 50 cannot find a good job, they may accept a lower-paid job. For example, if an older person gets a lower-level job such as a clerical job, they may have a lower salary and create financial pressure on them. Another serious issue is the loss of experienced professionals in the workplace. If an experienced professional is replaced by an inexperienced employee, the fresher employee may not have valuable knowledge to deal with complex workplace challenges.

To solve these problems, the government should introduce stronger policies to prevent age discrimination during recruitment. If companies are encouraged to offer suitable positions to older people, these workers may get access to well-paid employment. In addition, authorities should provide financial assistance to people over 50 through government schemes. For instance, the government should provide financial support to unemployed people over 50 while they search for suitable jobs.

In conclusion, this situation might cause problems such as loss of productivity and financial pressure. However, these issues can be addressed through stronger recruitment policies and financial support schemes. If both the government and companies make efforts then people over 50 may get good jobs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: causes and solutions. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You identify financial pressure and loss of productivity as problems, but the prompt asks for the causes of the difficulty in hiring older workers (e.g., ageism, technological shifts, or salary expectations). You instead focus on the consequences of the problem. While the solutions provided—government policies and financial support—are relevant, they are not fully developed with specific examples or deeper reasoning. To reach a higher band, ensure you directly answer 'why' this difficulty exists before proposing solutions.

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. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'For example', and 'In addition' are used effectively to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally repetitive, particularly in the conclusion where you restate the points from the introduction without adding synthesis. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the flow of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use some topic-specific terms like 'age discrimination', 'recruitment', and 'productivity'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive; for instance, the word 'problem' and 'situation' are used frequently. There is little evidence of less common or idiomatic vocabulary that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. To improve, try to vary your word choices and use more precise collocations to express your ideas more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If a person... they may...') and relative clauses effectively. While there are few grammatical errors, the range of structures is somewhat restricted. Most sentences follow a similar pattern, which limits the complexity of the writing. Punctuation is generally accurate, and errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or inverted sentences, to add sophistication to your writing.

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

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