Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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 5.5)

Habit are the things which individuals are got by their actions and the ones who are they living with. I partially agree with the statement that it is common for individual to change their habits and their opinions as they get older because when the individual is at the young age they are not able to understand the difference between right and wrong and they will do whatever they find easy and what their near and dear ones doing. When people don’t have the knowledge regarding anything then may be they have a different opinion but when they get older they have a understanding of right and wrong and there opinion will change according to their life experience and knowledge. For instance when individual is young and going to school he/ she find difficulty in waking up early in the morning for the revision of their exam but when he/ she get older then their opinion is changed as they knows they can remember the things easily when they go through the notes once in the morning and that time they have a chance to get the brief overview of all the chapter which will help them to get good grades. As sometimes our opinion is not changed because we have the habit of the things which we are having from our young age so we are trying to get come out of our comfort zone because we are having a doubt if we do any changes it can create a problem for us and which is not beneficial to do the work.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by expressing a partial agreement and providing reasons for why habits and opinions change with age. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The example regarding waking up early for school revision is relevant but could be more clearly linked to the broader concept of changing opinions. The final section attempts to discuss why some habits remain unchanged, which adds balance, but the expression is slightly confused, making the argument difficult to follow. To improve, ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed point that directly supports your position, and use more precise examples to illustrate your reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks clear paragraphing, as it is presented as a single block of text. This makes it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of your argument. While there is a logical flow from the introduction to the example and the counter-argument, the lack of paragraph breaks is a significant issue. Additionally, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'when... then...'). To achieve a higher score, you must use clear paragraph breaks to separate your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, and experiment with a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'near and dear ones' and 'do the work,' which are somewhat informal or vague. There are also instances of awkward word choices, such as 'individuals are got by their actions.' To improve, focus on learning collocations and more academic vocabulary related to personal development and psychology. Using more precise synonyms for common words will help you convey your ideas with greater clarity and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('Habit are', 'their opinion is changed as they knows'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, which occasionally impedes readability. While you attempt to use complex sentences, they are often faulty, leading to confusion. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Proofreading your work for simple errors and practicing the construction of complex sentences will significantly improve your accuracy and overall score.

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

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