Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-18

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 5.0)

Here is a **100-word Band 5-level solution paragraph**:

There are several solutions to help old people get jobs. First, companies should provide training to older workers so they can learn new technology and improve their skills. This can make them more confident at work. Second, the government should make strict rules against age discrimination. Employers should choose workers based on their skills, not their age. Third, companies can offer part-time or flexible jobs to older people because they may not be able to work for long hours. Finally, the government can give benefits to companies that hire older workers. These steps can help older people find suitable jobs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The student has provided a response that only addresses solutions to the problem, completely omitting the causes which form the first part of the prompt. Furthermore, the length check indicates a severe deficit, with the text containing only 108 words compared to the mandatory minimum of 250 words. This under-length severely limits the development of ideas. While the solutions suggested, such as company training and government anti-discrimination rules, are relevant to the topic, they are presented in a very brief and limited manner without adequate examples or deep extension. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially, warranting a band score of 4.0 according to the descriptors for under-developed and incomplete responses.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is presented as a single paragraph, lacking the proper paragraphing structure expected in an academic essay. However, within this short paragraph, the ideas are introduced using clear sequencing markers such as 'First', 'Second', 'Third', and 'Finally'. This provides a basic level of organization, even though overall progression and extended cohesion are missing due to the brevity of the text. Referencing is generally clear, with pronouns like 'This' and 'These steps' successfully linking ideas back to preceding statements. Despite the mechanical nature of the cohesive devices, the flow is adequate for a lower-intermediate level text, justifying a band score of 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student demonstrates a minimally adequate vocabulary range to discuss the topic of employment and older workers. Words and phrases like 'age discrimination', 'part-time or flexible jobs', and 'provide training' are used correctly and fit the context well. However, the range is limited, and the student relies on simpler terms such as 'old people' instead of more varied alternatives like 'older individuals' or 'aging workforce'. There are no noticeable spelling errors, but the lack of less common lexical items and the restricted vocabulary pool mean the writing does not rise above a Band 5.0 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The text displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some grammatical control. For instance, the student successfully uses a subordinate clause of purpose in 'so they can learn new technology' and a conditional-like structure in 'because they may not be able to work for long hours'. The grammar is generally accurate with very few surface errors, meaning communication is never impeded. However, the range of grammatical structures remains limited and repetitive, preventing a higher score. Because the sentences are largely controlled and mostly error-free within this limited scope, the response aligns well with the Band 5.0 criteria.

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.