Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Nowadays it is trend that as many people grow older, their way of thinking and routines changes.
From my perspective, I firmly believe that when the people get older their way of thinking, diet, routine changes because when people get older their brain cannot think properly also their habits change because of health issues. When a person is young their ability of thinking is totally different because that time, they take care of their health for instance, they eat healthy food, doing regular workout, So, their mind is working sharply that time. However, when they get older, their lifestyle totally different they cannot think when they used to think.
Furthermore, when they get older, they prefer to live simply they want comfort and relax routine. younger people often view issues from different perspectives because they have had fewer life experiences, but older people think according to their experiences and knowledge. Additionally, one reason why habits change with age is that when people are young, they followed discipline routine, more socializing, eat healthy food, workout daily, but when they get older, they don't follow proper routine waking up late, prefer comfort and relaxation, don't eat fibers which is very good for mind to think sharp.
In conclusion, I believe that when people get older their way of thinking, routines, diet, habits everything change. Maturity, life experiences plays are very crucial role in older men's life.
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 essay addresses the prompt by expressing a clear position that habits and opinions change with age. However, the response is under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat repetitive and lack specific, well-developed examples. The reasoning regarding why cognitive abilities decline is overly simplistic and lacks nuance. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the minimum word count to allow for a more comprehensive exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is sometimes hindered by repetitive phrasing. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Furthermore' and 'In conclusion,' they are sometimes used mechanically. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between the habits of young and old people is somewhat abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, distinct focus would help the flow of your writing significantly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'good,' 'change,' and 'think.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'discipline routine' instead of 'disciplined routine' and 'don't eat fibers' instead of 'do not consume enough fiber.' To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary and idiomatic expressions related to the topic of aging and personal development, while ensuring that your word choices are accurate and contextually appropriate.
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 clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('their way of thinking... changes' vs 'their way of thinking... change'), missing articles ('the people' vs 'people'), and run-on sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma splices. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement and article usage. Increasing the variety of complex structures will also help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.