Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-17

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 7.5)

In numerous modern economies, mature jobseekers over the age of fifty encounter significant barriers when attempting to secure suitable employment, despite possessing decades of professional experience. This predicament primarily stems from prevailing stereotypes regarding technological competence and higher compensation expectations. However, targeted governmental regulations and comprehensive corporate retraining initiatives can effectively mitigate this issue.

The root causes of this phenomenon are predominantly cultural and economic. Chief among these is ageism, particularly the pervasive corporate assumption that older individuals struggle to adapt to rapid digital transformation. Many hiring managers assume that workers past fifty lack the agility to master contemporary software, cloud platforms, or automated workflows, leading firms to instinctively favor younger candidates. Furthermore, economic considerations deter recruiters; seasoned professionals typically command higher salaries and benefit packages commensurate with their career tenure. Employers often view these financial expectations as an unnecessary expense, preferring instead to hire recent graduates who are willing to accept entry-level wages and work longer hours.

To address this systemic marginalization, decisive measures must be implemented by both governments and private enterprises. Primarily, policymakers should enact and rigorously enforce anti-age-discrimination legislation within the recruitment process. A practical measure is mandating "blind recruitment," wherein applicants' dates of birth, graduation years, and photographs are redacted from initial resumes, ensuring that candidates are evaluated solely on objective qualifications and relevant achievements. Additionally, state-funded upskilling and continuous education programs should be established. By subsidizing professional development courses in digital literacy for older jobseekers, authorities can dismantle the stigma surrounding their technical abilities and ensure they remain competitive in an evolving labor market.

To conclude, while entrenched prejudices regarding adaptability and higher salary expectations hinder mature workers from obtaining fulfilling roles, these obstacles are far from insurmountable. Through robust legal protections against hiring bias and accessible technological training, societies can fully harness the invaluable expertise and stability that senior professionals bring to the workforce.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly identifying the causes of the problem, such as ageism regarding digital transformation and higher salary expectations, and providing viable solutions, including anti-age-discrimination legislation and state-funded upskilling programs. The position is well-developed throughout the essay, with relevant explanations and logical support provided in every body paragraph. There are no omissions or misunderstandings of the prompt. For instance, the discussion on 'blind recruitment' effectively directly targets the hiring bias mentioned in the prompt. Therefore, the response comfortably fulfills the Band 8 criteria for Task Achievement, showing a fully developed argument with clear support.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear and logical progression of ideas from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph dedicated to a distinct aspect of the prompt: introduction, causes, measures, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are handled naturally without feeling overly mechanical, as seen in transitions like 'Furthermore' and 'Additionally'. Referencing is clear throughout, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow. The logical structure allows the reader to navigate the arguments effortlessly. This performance aligns well with a Band 8 descriptor for Coherence and Cohesion due to the skillful management of paragraphing and logical sequencing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The candidate displays a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic context. Less common and sophisticated lexical items are used naturally, such as 'predicament', 'prevailing stereotypes', 'systemic marginalization', and 'entrenched prejudices'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate, with only rare minor instances of awkward phrasing. For example, expressions like 'rapid digital transformation' and 'career tenure' demonstrate a strong command of precise academic vocabulary. The occasional use of more advanced phrasing elevates the response to a high level, comfortably meeting the standard for Band 8 in Lexical Resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer employs a wide range of complex grammatical structures with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. Sentences such as 'A practical measure is mandating "blind recruitment," wherein applicants' dates of birth, graduation years, and photographs are redacted from initial resumes...' showcase excellent control over subordinate clauses and participial phrases. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and any minor slips do not impede communication. Punctuation and tense consistency are well-maintained throughout. This strong command of complex syntax and high level of grammatical accuracy fully justifies a Band 8 score for this criterion.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.