Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-13

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 as individuals age, their daily routines and personal beliefs undergo considerable transformation. I completely agree with this view, as changing responsibilities and accumulated life experience naturally reshape both how people behave and what they believe.

One reason habits change is that priorities shift as people move through different life stages. In their youth, individuals often lead spontaneous lifestyles, prioritising socialising or entertainment over structure. However, once they take on responsibilities such as a career, marriage, or children, they tend to adopt more disciplined routines. For instance, a person who rarely exercised or cooked at home in their twenties may begin following a strict fitness regime and healthy diet in their forties, motivated by growing health awareness or the desire to set a positive example for their children.

Similarly, opinions evolve as people gain broader exposure to the world. Views formed early in life are often based on limited experience, whereas greater interaction with diverse people, workplaces, and challenges tends to encourage more nuanced thinking. A common example is attitudes towards work-life balance: many ambitious young professionals initially believe that long working hours are essential for success, but after experiencing burnout or witnessing its impact on relationships, they often come to value balance and wellbeing far more highly.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that not all beliefs are equally susceptible to change. Fundamental values instilled during childhood, such as honesty or loyalty to family, tend to remain stable, whereas more practical opinions concerning careers, finances, or lifestyle are considerably more likely to shift over time.

In conclusion, I firmly agree that both habits and opinions commonly change as people grow older, primarily due to evolving responsibilities and the broadening of personal experience. While certain core values may remain fixed, most aspects of daily behaviour and outlook adapt significantly across a lifetime.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the prompt by clearly taking a position ('I completely agree') and discussing both habits and opinions in relation to growing older. The response is well-developed with relevant, logical ideas. For instance, the paragraph explaining how priorities shift from spontaneous youth to disciplined routines due to family or career is insightful and well-supported with a clear example of exercise and diet. Furthermore, the inclusion of a concession regarding fundamental values versus practical opinions demonstrates a sophisticated level of critical thinking and fully explores the nuances of the task. The position remains clear and consistent throughout the entire essay, meeting all the requirements for a high band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

Ideas are logically sequenced, ensuring a smooth progression of thought throughout the response. The essay begins with a clear introduction stating the thesis, followed by well-structured body paragraphs that each deal with a distinct aspect of the prompt (habits in paragraph two, opinions in paragraph three, and a qualifying point in paragraph four). Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately. Cohesive devices such as 'One reason', 'Similarly', 'Nevertheless', and 'In conclusion' are managed well without feeling mechanical or obtrusive. Reference words like 'their' and 'such as' connect ideas fluidly, maintaining clear relationships between sentences and paragraphs from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The writer demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource appropriate for a general task. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully throughout the essay, such as 'undergo considerable transformation', 'spontaneous lifestyles', 'growing health awareness', 'nuanced thinking', and 'susceptible to change'. Word choices are precise, and control of collocation is very strong. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, and the vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise meanings naturally and fluently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

A wide range of complex structures is used with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. The writer successfully employs conditional and participial phrases, subordinate clauses, and varied sentence lengths, such as in the sentence: 'For instance, a person who rarely exercised or cooked at home in their twenties may begin following a strict fitness regime...'. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, with only very occasional, minor slips. Control of punctuation and grammar is robust, ensuring that the reader can follow the arguments smoothly without any difficulty.

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