Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-22

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)

The increasing difficulty faced by people over 50 in securing suitable employment is a significant labour-market issue. Although older workers often possess extensive professional experience, they may face barriers that are largely unrelated to their actual ability to perform a job. The principal causes are age-based discrimination and an increasing mismatch between established skills and rapidly changing workplace requirements. These problems can be addressed through stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination measures and substantially better access to lifelong training.

One major cause is employer bias towards younger candidates. Recruiters may assume that older applicants are less adaptable, less technologically proficient or less willing to learn, even when their qualifications are comparable with those of younger candidates. The OECD reports that age discrimination remains a significant barrier to employment and cites hiring experiments in which older applicants received fewer interview invitations despite having equivalent qualifications. This problem is particularly damaging because recruitment decisions are often made from a CV before an applicant has an opportunity to demonstrate their actual capabilities. A second factor is the rapid transformation of many occupations. Digitalisation and new technologies have changed the skills employers demand, while older employees may have had fewer opportunities for formal training. OECD data show that, across the EU, participation in job-related training is lower among workers aged 55–64 than among those aged 35–54.

Several measures could address these difficulties. First, governments should enforce age-discrimination laws rigorously and require employers to use transparent, skills-based recruitment procedures. Job advertisements and application systems should focus on demonstrable competencies rather than characteristics associated with age. Employers could also use anonymised initial applications, structured interviews and objective selection criteria to reduce the influence of unconscious age bias. These measures would allow experienced applicants to be assessed on what they can actually contribute rather than on assumptions about their age.

Second, governments and employers should make lifelong professional development accessible to workers throughout their careers. Subsidised digital-skills courses, paid retraining and flexible training programmes would enable people in their fifties and sixties to adapt to technological change without having to leave the labour market. Companies could further introduce flexible hours, redesigned roles and phased retirement, allowing experienced employees to remain productive while accommodating changing needs. Such policies are consistent with OECD recommendations that emphasise lifelong learning, flexible working arrangements and age-inclusive workplaces.

In conclusion, the employment difficulties experienced by people over 50 are caused principally by age-related prejudice and insufficient opportunities to update skills in a rapidly changing labour market. Stronger protection against discriminatory recruitment, combined with accessible lifelong training and flexible working arrangements, would enable employers to make better use of experienced workers while giving older people a fairer opportunity to remain economically active.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt, investigating both the causes of employment difficulties for older workers (employer bias and rapid technological transformation) and practical measures to solve them (stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and lifelong learning). The position is clearly stated in the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are thoroughly developed and supported with relevant external evidence, such as references to OECD data regarding training participation and recruitment experiments. The arguments are well-extended, insightful, and entirely relevant to the task, earning a solid Band 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is exceptionally well-organized and displays a clear logical progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct theme, beginning with clear topic sentences such as 'One major cause is employer bias towards younger candidates' and 'Several measures could address these difficulties.' Cohesive devices are used naturally and unobtrusively throughout the text, including words and phrases like 'Furthermore', 'A second factor', and 'Such policies'. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately to separate causes from solutions, resulting in a cohesive structure that fully justifies a Band 8.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The candidate demonstrates a wide, flexible, and natural lexical resource with the ability to use sophisticated and topic-specific terminology fluently. Examples of advanced vocabulary include 'labour-market issue', 'digitalisation', 'demonstrable competencies', 'unconscious age bias', and 'phased retirement'. Word choice and collocations are generally precise, with only occasional minor slips. The range of vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise shades of meaning regarding socio-economic issues, easily satisfying the requirements for a Band 8.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide variety of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of control and flexibility. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring sophisticated subordinate clauses, passive constructions, and participial phrases (e.g., 'Recruiters may assume that older applicants are less adaptable...', 'Job advertisements and application systems should focus on demonstrable competencies...'). Punctuation is accurate, and grammatical errors are extremely rare and non-systematic, which fully aligns with the high-level criteria for Band 8.0.

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