Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-26

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 7.5)

In some countries, people over the age of 50 find it increasingly difficult to obtain suitable employment, despite having considerable experience. This problem is mainly caused by age-related stereotypes and rapid changes in the workplace, but several measures can be taken to address it.

One major cause is the belief among employers that younger workers are more energetic, flexible and capable of learning new technologies. As a result, older applicants may be rejected simply because of their age rather than their qualifications. Another factor is the increasing importance of digital skills. Many workplaces now rely heavily on computers and modern software, and some older employees may not have had sufficient opportunities to develop these skills. Furthermore, companies may prefer younger workers because they expect them to remain in employment for a longer period.

There are several ways to tackle this issue. Firstly, governments should introduce and strictly enforce laws against age discrimination in recruitment and the workplace. Employers should be encouraged to assess candidates according to their skills, qualifications and experience instead of their age. Secondly, governments and businesses could provide affordable training programmes that help older workers improve their digital and professional skills. This would make them more competitive in a rapidly changing job market. Finally, companies could benefit from mixed-age teams, where experienced employees can share their knowledge while younger workers contribute new ideas and technological skills.

In conclusion, the difficulty faced by older job seekers is largely the result of age stereotypes and technological changes. Stronger anti-discrimination policies and better training opportunities can help ensure that experienced workers continue to have fair access to employment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified two main causes—age-related stereotypes and the digital skills gap—and provided logical, actionable solutions such as anti-discrimination legislation and targeted training programs. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant reasoning, such as the mention of mixed-age teams as a benefit to companies. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained consistently throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, you could provide a specific real-world example or a more detailed illustration of how these policies have worked in a particular country to further strengthen your arguments.

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 seamless. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'One major cause', 'Another factor', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally', which guide the reader through your argument without feeling mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. The referencing is accurate, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'age-related stereotypes', 'strictly enforce laws', and 'rapidly changing job market' are used accurately and appropriately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations or idiomatic expressions related to the labor market, such as 'ageism', 'upskilling', or 'intergenerational synergy'. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task and shows good control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, including conditional-like reasoning ('if... then' implied) and relative clauses. The sentences are generally error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. The grammar is consistently accurate, which allows the reader to focus entirely on your arguments. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To push into the highest band, you could experiment with more diverse sentence beginnings or more complex subordinating conjunctions to add further variety to your syntactic range.

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