Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-17

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 7.0)

In many countries, people over the age of 50 find it difficult to obtain good jobs even though they have valuable experience and skills. This is a serious social and economic problem. There are several reasons for this situation, including age discrimination, rapid technological changes, and employers' preference for younger workers. However, governments and companies can take several measures to improve the situation.

One major cause is age discrimination. Some employers believe that older workers are less energetic, less flexible, or unable to learn new skills. As a result, they may choose younger applicants even when older candidates have more experience. For example, a 55-year-old manager with many years of professional experience may be rejected because a company believes that a younger employee will work for the organization for a longer period.

Another important reason is the rapid development of technology. Many jobs now require employees to use computers, artificial intelligence, and other digital tools. Some older workers may not have had enough opportunities to learn these technologies during their careers. Consequently, they can find it harder to compete with younger applicants who have recently completed their education and are more familiar with modern technology.

To solve this problem, governments and companies should provide training and retraining programs for older workers. These programs could teach them digital skills, communication skills, and other abilities required in the modern workplace. Companies should also introduce fair recruitment policies and judge applicants according to their qualifications rather than their age. For instance, an organization could use skills-based interviews and anonymous applications to reduce age discrimination.

In addition, governments could provide financial incentives to companies that employ and train older workers. Older employees can contribute significantly through their knowledge, experience, and ability to mentor younger colleagues. Creating flexible working arrangements, such as part-time positions and remote work, could also encourage more people over 50 to remain in employment.

In conclusion, the difficulty faced by older workers is mainly caused by age discrimination, technological change, and employers' preference for younger employees. Providing training, enforcing fair recruitment practices, and encouraging companies to hire older workers can help create a more inclusive labour market. Older people should be valued for both their experience and their ability to continue learning.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall7.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified two main causes (age discrimination and technological change) and provided logical, well-developed solutions (training programs, fair recruitment, and financial incentives). Each paragraph is well-supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of skills-based interviews and the role of older workers as mentors. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are extended sufficiently to meet the requirements of a Band 8, as the response is focused, relevant, and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the causes and the solutions is smooth. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'Consequently', 'In addition', and 'For instance', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear, meeting the criteria for a high band score in this category.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'inclusive labour market', 'financial incentives', and 'flexible working arrangements' show a good command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is accurate and natural, it is generally functional rather than highly sophisticated or idiomatic. To reach the highest bands, you could incorporate more nuanced collocations or less common lexical items. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('even when older candidates have...') and subordinate clauses ('Although they have...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense is consistent. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader. While the structures are accurate, they are relatively standard; incorporating a wider variety of advanced grammatical forms, such as inversion or more complex passive constructions, would further enhance the range.

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