Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In today’s society, it is widely observed that individuals gradually change their habits and opinions as they grow older. I agree with this view because maturity plays a vital role in shaping people’s decisions, while declining physical abilities can also influence their lifestyle choices.

The primary reason why people’s opinions change is that their perspectives develop with maturity and life experience. As individuals grow older, they encounter real-world challenges and gain a better understanding of family responsibilities, financial constraints and career decisions. These experiences often cause them to reconsider beliefs that they held when they were younger and adopt more practical views. For example, young people from low-income families may initially have unrealistic expectations about financial success. However, as they grow older and become aware of their family’s financial difficulties, they may develop a stronger appreciation for hard work, financial stability and long-term planning. Therefore, increased maturity and life experience can significantly influence people’s opinions.

Another important reason is that physical changes can prevent individuals from maintaining the habits they developed during their youth. Teenagers and young adults often participate in physically demanding activities such as football and running, which require considerable stamina and strength. However, as people enter their thirties and beyond, their bodies may take longer to recover from physical exertion and injuries. Consequently, they may modify their routines and choose activities that are less physically demanding. Professional athletes provide a clear example, as many eventually retire from competitive sport when their physical abilities begin to decline and move towards less strenuous activities.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that people naturally change their opinions and habits as they age. Greater maturity and life experience can reshape their perspectives, while physical changes can influence the activities and lifestyles they choose to pursue.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating an opinion agreeing with the prompt and supporting it with logical reasons. The position is well-developed throughout the essay. For example, the student explores how maturity and life experience alter perspectives on financial success and family responsibilities, and how physical changes require modifications to lifestyle habits, supported by the example of professional athletes. Ideas are extended appropriately without wandering off-topic, meeting all criteria for a Band 7.0 or Band 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Coherence and cohesion are managed very well. The essay follows a clear logical progression, starting with an introduction that outlines the writer's position, followed by two distinct body paragraphs tackling opinions and habits respectively, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately without being overly mechanical, such as 'The primary reason why...', 'However, as they grow older...', and 'Consequently'. Paragraphing is fully sufficient and appropriate, ensuring the text is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items are used effectively with a strong awareness of style and collocation, such as 'financial constraints', 'physical exertion', and 'competitive sport'. Word choices are generally natural and appropriate for an IELTS Task 2 response, with only occasional minor slips, comfortably placing the lexical performance within the Band 7 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a variety of complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. Examples include conditional and participial constructions like 'As individuals grow older, they encounter real-world challenges...' and 'Professional athletes provide a clear example, as many eventually retire...'. While there are a few minor structural limitations, the majority of sentences are accurate and communication is never impeded.

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

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