Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08

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 8.0)

It is often observed that people's habits and opinions change considerably as they grow older. I strongly agree with this view because individuals are exposed to new information and circumstances over time, while their past experiences also make them more mature and practical.

Firstly, growing older exposes people to a wider range of information, individuals and circumstances, which can significantly influence their opinions and habits. When people are young, their views are often shaped by their family, school and limited social environment. However, as they become older, they interact with different people, access more sources of information and encounter new situations. As a result, they may reconsider their previous beliefs and adopt different behaviours. For example, a person who once considered travelling an unnecessary expense may change this opinion after visiting different countries and learning about other cultures.

Secondly, past experiences play a crucial role in changing people's habits and opinions because they enable individuals to learn from their mistakes and make more practical decisions. As people become older, they experience both success and failure and gradually understand the consequences of their choices. For instance, a young adult may initially spend most of their income on entertainment and unnecessary purchases. However, after facing financial difficulties, they may recognize the importance of saving money and subsequently develop more responsible spending habits.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that people commonly change their habits and opinions with age. Greater exposure to information and changing circumstances can broaden their perspectives, while past experiences teach them to make more practical and informed decisions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses the prompt by clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. Each paragraph provides a distinct, relevant reason—exposure to new information and the accumulation of life experience—which is well-supported by clear, logical examples such as the change in travel perspective and the development of financial responsibility. The ideas are well-developed and the argument is coherent, meeting the requirements for a high band score by providing a balanced and thoughtful exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using effective signposting such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly'. Cohesive devices are used naturally and accurately throughout the text (e.g., 'As a result', 'However', 'For instance'). The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion, ensuring the reader can follow the argument without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for the task. The student demonstrates a good range of topic-specific language, such as 'reconsider their previous beliefs', 'unnecessary expense', and 'informed decisions'. The word choices are natural and contribute to the clarity of the argument. While the vocabulary is consistently accurate and fits the context well, it stays within a standard range; to reach the highest band, a slightly more sophisticated or idiomatic range of collocations could be incorporated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a high level of grammatical control. A variety of complex sentence structures are used effectively, such as conditional-like structures ('When people are young, their views are often...') and participial phrases ('...enabling individuals to learn...'). Punctuation is accurate, and there are virtually no grammatical errors. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the piece, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

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