Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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)

It is often argued that people tend to change their habits and opinions as they grow older. I agree with this view because people gain new experiences and their priorities usually change throughout different stages of life.

Firstly, people often develop different habits as their responsibilities increase. For example, young people may spend a considerable amount of time socialising, playing games or staying up late. However, when they become adults and start working, they usually adopt a more organised lifestyle. They may wake up earlier, exercise regularly and pay greater attention to their diet. This is mainly because they have to manage their careers, families and other responsibilities. Therefore, changes in daily routines are a natural part of growing older.

Secondly, people’s opinions can also change because of their experiences and increased knowledge. A person may have a particular opinion about education, relationships or money when they are young, but their views may become different after facing real-life situations. For instance, a young person might believe that earning a high salary is the most important factor in choosing a career. After gaining work experience, however, they may realise that job satisfaction, work-life balance and a positive working environment are equally important.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that people commonly change both their habits and opinions as they age. These changes occur because their responsibilities, experiences and priorities develop over time. In my view, adapting to these changes is a normal and beneficial part of personal growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt clearly, maintaining a consistent position throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with logical examples, such as the transition from socialising in youth to professional responsibilities in adulthood. However, the response is 246 words long, which falls slightly short of the 250-word minimum requirement. This minor omission in length prevents the essay from fully developing its arguments to the depth expected at higher bands. While the position is clear and the main points are covered, the slight under-length necessitates a penalty in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is well-organised with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is logical. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'However', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and referencing is clear throughout the text. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the task. You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision, such as 'responsibilities', 'priorities', 'organised lifestyle', and 'real-life situations'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterise a higher band score. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning, and the language used is natural and fits the formal tone of an IELTS essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'A person may have a particular opinion... but their views may become different after facing real-life situations.' Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentences are generally error-free, showing a good level of control. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or more advanced passive constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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