Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20

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 very common for people to change both their habits and their opinions as they get older. I completely agree with this statement.

People do not stay the same throughout their lives because their circumstances, knowledge and priorities change.

*Habits change because lifestyle and responsibilities change.*

When we are young, we have a lot of free time, energy and fewer responsibilities. A teenager might stay up until 2 am playing video games, eat fast food every day and rarely exercise. As that same person becomes an adult with a job, a mortgage and perhaps children, those habits become impossible to maintain.

For example, I used to drink four cups of coffee a day and sleep only five hours when I was at university. Now, in my late twenties, I go to bed early, exercise regularly and cook at home because I have understood that health is more important for long-term productivity than short-term convenience. Similarly, many people quit smoking, reduce drinking or start saving money only after they get older and experience the negative consequences of their earlier habits.

Biology also plays a role. Our bodies tolerate less as we age, so we naturally adapt. An older person may give up extreme sports or late nights not because they want to, but because their body demands it.

*Opinions change because knowledge and perspective grow.*

Opinions are based on what we know and what we have experienced. When we are young, our opinions are often borrowed from parents, friends or social media, and are quite idealistic and black-and-white.

With age, we meet different kinds of people, travel, work, fail, and succeed. This broadens our understanding and makes our views more nuanced and tolerant.

For instance, when I was 18 I was absolutely certain that success meant getting a high-paying corporate job in a big city. I thought anyone who chose a different path was not ambitious. After working for two years and seeing friends who chose to be teachers, artists or entrepreneurs and are genuinely happy, my opinion has completely changed. I now believe success is subjective and about work-life balance, not just salary.

This is very common in politics and social issues as well. A person who was very liberal or very conservative in college may become more moderate later after seeing the complexity of running a family or a business. Research also shows that major life events like becoming a parent, losing a job or living abroad are strong predictors of opinion change.

Some might argue that core personality does not change much, and that is true - a generally honest or curious person will likely stay that way. But specific daily habits and views on concrete issues - like diet, spending, career, marriage, religion or politics - almost always evolve.

In conclusion, changing habits and opinions is not a sign of inconsistency but a sign of learning and adaptation. As we get older we have more information, more responsibilities and different physical needs, so it is entirely natural and indeed very common for both how we live and what we believe to change.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt regarding whether people change their habits and opinions as they get older. The writer takes a clear, well-supported position agreeing with the statement. The ideas are exceptionally well-developed, using two distinct thematic categories (habits and opinions) supported by relevant, specific examples from personal experience and general observation, such as transitioning from university lifestyle habits to adult responsibilities, and shifting career perceptions from age 18 to late twenties. The reasoning is thorough and well-extended, showing strong critical engagement with the topic, including a thoughtful counter-argument regarding core personality. This fully satisfies the Band 8 and approaching Band 9 descriptors for task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is exceptionally well-organized with a clear, logical progression throughout. The writer uses formatting effectively with clear thematic headings to separate the discussion on habits from opinions, although standard cohesive paragraphing is also well-maintained. Cohesive devices such as 'For example', 'Similarly', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used naturally and flexibly without being mechanical. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, and referencing is clear throughout, allowing the reader to follow the train of thought effortlessly. The logical structure and smooth transitions place this securely in the Band 8 category.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible vocabulary range suitable for discussing lifestyle and psychological shifts. Uncommon lexical items are used skillfully and naturally, such as 'short-term convenience', 'negative consequences', 'nuanced and tolerant', 'subjective', and 'consistency'. Word choice and collocations are generally precise, with only very occasional minor awkwardness. Spelling and word formation are flawless. The precise phrasing and sophisticated control over abstract concepts demonstrate strong Band 8 lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writer displays a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The response features conditional structures, relative clauses, and multi-clause sentences handled with excellent control (e.g., 'As that same person becomes an adult with a job, a mortgage and perhaps children, those habits become impossible to maintain'). The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled impeccably. Minor slips are virtually non-existent. This level of syntactic flexibility and grammatical precision fully merits a Band 8 score.

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