Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

It is very common for people to change both their habits and their opinions as they get older.

Do you agree or disagree?

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

Student answer (Band 6.5)

There is an argument that it is being common in people to change their opinion and habits as they are getting older. Although I mostly agree with the given statement, there are some people regardless of age who sticks to their views and routine.

To begin with, it is normal to have changes in behaviour as life goes. People usually realise their mistakes from past experiences and they try to change some of their bad habits. For example, to quit smoking or drinking, starting to do exercise instead of being lazy and eating healthy. Moreover, individuals also change their perspectives as they move on in life. For instance, children may have certain goals to achieve in their career, and the view sometimes changes as they explore various career options available. Same with other people who tend to experience different work environments, and their career options vary as they grow or when getting better opportunities at workplace. For example, people working in construction, may receive multiple opportunities and they would then think to start their own company rather than working for someone else.

On the other hand, there are a few people who are more likely to keep their habits and opinions same throughout their life. Some people for example, who are eating healthy, staying fit and providing wealth for their family would like to stay same in their life. These people also have some strict rules and their view never changes. For example, even if the topic is politics, education or tourism they have the opinion which they stick to.

In conclusion, although people change their opinions and habits because of their past experiences or better opportunities, a few individuals keep their views and routine same regardless of the age.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that acknowledges both sides of the argument. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as career progression and lifestyle choices. However, the development is somewhat repetitive in the second paragraph, where the focus on career changes could have been more concisely expressed. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that the supporting examples are more distinct and avoid repeating the same points about 'habits' and 'opinions' in a way that feels circular. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two sides of the argument. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing within paragraphs could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the discussion of career goals and the example of construction workers could be more fluid. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'perspectives', 'career options', and 'work environments'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural collocations, such as 'it is being common in people' and 'providing wealth for their family'. The use of vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding the range of synonyms and idiomatic expressions would improve the overall quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'there are some people... who sticks to their views' (subject-verb agreement error), 'as life goes' (unnatural phrasing), and 'stay same in their life' (missing article/adverb). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and refining complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.

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

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