Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-27

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Nowadays it's possible for people to buy many products or pay for treatments that help them to look younger.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Nowadays, people can easily find products and treatments that promise to make them look younger. These include anti-ageing creams, cosmetic procedures and different types of medical treatments. In my opinion, this is mostly a positive development, although it can have some negative effects if people become too concerned about their appearance.

One major advantage is that these products can help people feel more confident and comfortable with themselves. As people get older, they may develop wrinkles, hair loss or other visible signs of ageing. If a safe treatment helps them feel better about their appearance, there is nothing wrong with choosing it. For example, some people may use skincare products or have a simple cosmetic procedure before an important event because it makes them feel more confident. In addition, many modern treatments are used for genuine health-related reasons. Treatments for hair loss or dental problems, for instance, can improve both appearance and quality of life.

However, there are also some disadvantages. The beauty industry can create unrealistic expectations about ageing. People may start believing that looking young is more important than accepting the natural ageing process. This can lead to unnecessary spending and, in some cases, repeated cosmetic procedures. There are also treatments that can have side effects if they are performed by unqualified professionals. Young people in particular may feel pressured by social media to maintain a certain appearance.

In conclusion, products and treatments that help people look younger can be beneficial when they are safe and used for personal reasons. However, people should not feel that they have to look young in order to be attractive or successful. A balanced attitude towards ageing is therefore important.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of anti-ageing products and treatments before presenting a clear overall position in the introduction and conclusion. The writer presents relevant ideas, such as confidence boosts and health-related benefits as advantages, alongside unrealistic expectations and potential side effects as disadvantages. These ideas are sufficiently extended and supported with examples, such as skincare use before events and dental problems. The position remains consistent throughout the essay. This performance meets the criteria for Band 7, as all parts of the task are addressed with a clear position and well-supported arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: introduction with thesis, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively to link ideas, such as 'One major advantage', 'In addition', and 'However'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the contrasting arguments cleanly. Referencing and substitution are well managed, ensuring the reader can easily follow the flow of arguments. Although the cohesion is slightly standard rather than entirely subtle, it clearly meets the requirements for a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for flexibility and precision, using terms such as 'anti-ageing creams', 'cosmetic procedures', 'unrealistic expectations', and 'natural ageing process'. There is some awareness of collocation and style, evident in phrases like 'genuine health-related reasons' and 'balanced attitude towards ageing'. Minor lexical inaccuracies are largely absent, and spelling is accurate throughout. The vocabulary is adequate to convey precise meanings clearly, supporting a solid Band 7 score for lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writer uses a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentences, demonstrating control over grammatical forms. Examples of complex structures include 'If a safe treatment helps them feel better about their appearance, there is nothing wrong with choosing it' and 'Young people in particular may feel pressured by social media to maintain a certain appearance.' There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is handled well. Grammatical errors are extremely rare, showing a high level of accuracy that pushes close to Band 8, though the structural range is typical of a solid Band 7.

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