Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16

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 6.5)

It is often argued that people tend to change both their habits and opinions as they grow older. I largely agree with this view because changes in lifestyle are often driven by new responsibilities, and changing circumstances.

One of the major reason why people alter their habits as they age is that their priorities and responsibilities changes. For example, young people often have relatively few obligations and may spend considerable time socialising, playing video games, or staying up late. However, once they start doing full-time or start a family, they usually need to adopt a more organised routine. Additionally, they may begin exercising regularly, eating more healthy, managing their finances carefully, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. These changes are not related to a decision but is practical approach to new changes in life.

Moreover, people's opinions can also change because of education and personal experience. As individuals become more mature, they are exposed to various situations that challenge beliefs they held when they were younger. For instance, a person who once believed that career success is the most important achievement of his life might reconsider this view after experiencing workplace stress or spending more time with family. At the same time, travelling to other countries or interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds can make individuals more open-minded about different lifestyle choices, relationships, and social values.

On the other hand, not every aspect of a person's behaviour or beliefs changes with age. Some characteristics, such as personality, moral principles, religious beliefs, can remain relatively stable throughout adulthood. Furthermore, certain habits developed during childhood can be difficult to change, even when the ball is not in our court. Therefore, growing up does not automatically transform every individual, although it can create great sense of responsibility.

In conclusion, I agree that people usually change their habits and opinions as they grow older. Some responsibilities tend to influence their daily routines. Although some characteristics remain stable, personal change is a natural part of growing older.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a position and supporting it with relevant reasons and personal examples. The introduction clearly outlines the writer's perspective, and the body paragraphs effectively explore both the reasons why habits and opinions change due to responsibilities and education, as well as acknowledging counter-arguments regarding stable personality traits. The ideas are extended and supported well, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression throughout. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different arguments, such as lifestyle changes, opinions influenced by education, and counter-arguments about stability. Cohesive devices like 'However', 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' are employed to connect ideas, although some minor mechanical issues appear. Overall, the organizational structure is clear and effectively guides the reader from introduction to conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Phrases such as 'fulfilling responsibilities', 'open-minded', and 'moral principles' show good control of common collocation. However, there are some minor lexical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'eating more healthy' instead of 'eating more healthily' or 'eating healthier foods', and the idiom 'even when the ball is not in our court' which is used somewhat inappropriately in this context. These minor inaccuracies prevent a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are instances of complex forms, such as 'Once they start doing full-time or start a family, they usually need to adopt a more organised routine.' However, there are grammatical errors present, such as 'One of the major reason' (plural noun needed after 'one of the'), 'start doing full-time' (missing object), and 'These changes are not related to a decision but is practical approach' (subject-verb agreement and article errors). Despite these errors, communication is not impeded, placing the writing firmly in Band 6.

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