Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-26

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)

There is an ongoing debate about whether people tend to change their habits and opinions as they grow older. I completely agree with this view because people’s priorities, lifestyles and preferences often change over time. These changes are largely influenced by their responsibilities and the experiences they go through.

The first reason why I agree is that people’s habits often change as they take on greater responsibilities. At a young age, individuals tend to have fewer obligations and may therefore spend more time socialising, eating fast food and using social media. However, once they begin their careers or take on family responsibilities, they often become more conscious of their health and daily routines. For example, many young adults start exercising regularly, preparing healthier meals and managing their personal and professional responsibilities more carefully when they begin living independently. This shows how changes in circumstances can lead people to develop healthier and more responsible habits.

Another reason is that people’s opinions can change as a result of their life experiences. As individuals grow older, they meet different people, encounter new situations and learn from their mistakes. As a result, they may reconsider beliefs that they previously held. For instance, some young adults may initially believe that working long hours is the best way to achieve professional success. However, after experiencing stress or spending more time with their families, they may come to value work-life balance more highly. Their experiences can therefore give them a broader perspective and influence the way they think about important aspects of life.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that people’s habits and opinions often change as they get older. This is mainly because their responsibilities evolve and their experiences provide them with new perspectives. Therefore, the way people live and think at one stage of life may be quite different from how they behave and think later on.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by taking a clear and well-supported position agreeing that people change their habits and opinions as they age. The ideas are thoroughly developed with relevant, logical examples, such as how young adults transition from socialising and eating fast food to exercising regularly and focusing on health as they take on greater responsibilities. The discussion on how life experiences alter professional opinions—shifting from valuing long work hours to prioritising work-life balance—is extended effectively. The position is maintained consistently from the introduction to the conclusion, satisfying all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

Ideas are logically sequenced, moving smoothly from a clear introduction to distinct body paragraphs addressing habits and opinions respectively, and concluding with a concise summary. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each body paragraph dedicated to a single controlling idea. Cohesive devices are managed well, using transition markers such as 'The first reason why I agree', 'However', 'Another reason', and 'For instance' without being mechanical or intrusive. Referencing is clear throughout, contributing to a seamless and logical progression of thought.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for the task. Less common lexical items are used effectively with good awareness of collocation, such as 'priorities, lifestyles and preferences', 'greater responsibilities', 'conscious of their health', and 'work-life balance'. Word choice is generally precise and natural, with only occasional standard expressions used. Spelling and word formation are completely accurate throughout the entire response, allowing the reader to follow the arguments effortlessly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The writer displays a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully incorporating both simple and complex sentence forms. Complex structures such as conditional-style clauses and subordinate clauses ('As individuals grow older, they meet different people…') are handled with high accuracy. The majority of sentences in the response are error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to demarcate clauses, and subject-verb agreement is consistently maintained. Minor slips are absent, reflecting strong command over English grammar.

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