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)
There is no denying that as the people get older their way of leaving and their views towards any situation get affected as a result of their life learnings of the particular subjects. Although opinions differ I firmly believe that a person’s views on the situation has a significant influence of their respective age.The main reason for my belief is due to the learning from the life experience in different areas.
One of the main reasons I support this idea is that the people in their early years are more vigilant and aggressive of any situations they are experiencing. Because of that they are more likely to react rather than analyzing the matter. As a result, sometimes the situation gets more complicated than before and it takes more effort to resolve it.
On the other hand, people who are older and experienced multiple learning from their experiences has a different perspective to any situation. They prefer to understand any situation rather than reacting instantly due to this they are able to solve any problems without creating unnecessary drama. For instance, if there is an argument going on between any family member than the younger person might get involve and take a side with one of them while their are chances that a person at the older age will listen to both sides and try to make them understand consequently they are able to resolve the arguments more quickly. The younger generation reflects quite aggressive and egregious behaviour
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing how age influences habits and opinions. However, the essay is slightly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the argument. While the position is clear, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the second paragraph. The conclusion is missing entirely, which is a significant omission for a task of this nature. To improve, ensure you provide a clear introduction, well-developed body paragraphs with specific examples, and a concluding summary to fully address all parts of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow is hindered by mechanical transitions. Phrases like 'One of the main reasons' and 'On the other hand' are used, but the logical progression between sentences is sometimes disjointed. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'due to this they are able to solve any problems', where the antecedent is ambiguous. Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt ending suggests a lack of overall structure. Improving the use of cohesive devices to link ideas more fluidly would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'way of leaving' (likely meaning 'living') and 'egregious behaviour', which is used incorrectly in this context. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'get affected', use 'undergo transformation' or 'evolve'. Expanding your range to include less common lexical items would significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'as the people get older' (unnecessary article), 'a person’s views on the situation has' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'their are chances' (incorrect homophone). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with missing commas in complex sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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