Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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 7.0)

One major reason people change is that they gain more experience and knowledge. When we are young, our opinions are often formed by our parents, teachers, or friends. We have not seen much of the world. As we grow older, we meet different kinds of people, travel, work, and face real-life problems. This wider experience forces us to reconsider what we once believed. For example, a teenager might have a very idealistic opinion about politics or work, thinking everything is black and white. After a few years of working in a real job, that same person often becomes more practical and understanding of complexity.

Secondly, our responsibilities and priorities change, which changes our habits. A young student might have the habit of staying up late, eating fast food, and spending money freely because he has no major responsibilities. When that person becomes a parent or gets a serious job, his habits must change. He starts to wake up early, save money, and pay more attention to health. This is not because someone forced him, but because life demands it. For instance, I have seen many friends who never cared about exercise in their early 20s, but in their 30s they started going to the gym and eating healthy after a health scare or after seeing the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Finally, biological and psychological maturity also plays a role. As people age, they often become more patient and less impulsive. Habits like arguing over small things or taking risks for excitement tend to decrease. Older people often value peace, family time, and stability more than adventure or popularity.

In conclusion, changing habits and opinions with age is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of growth. People adapt to new information, new roles, and new understanding of themselves and the world.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt, exploring both habits and opinions and why they change over time. The student takes a clear, consistent position throughout the essay, stating that these changes stem from experience, changing responsibilities, and biological maturity. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the transition from an idealistic teenage view of politics to a practical work perspective, and the shifting daily habits of new parents. The arguments are thoroughly explored and extended, meeting the criteria for a high band without any noticeable omissions or under-developed main points.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and the essay progresses naturally from one major point to the next. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each body paragraph dedicated to a distinct driver of change (experience, responsibilities, and maturity). Cohesive devices such as 'Secondly', 'For example', and 'In conclusion' are managed well to guide the reader through the text. Referencing is clear throughout, and the overall arrangement of the response ensures a smooth and coherent reading experience, perfectly aligning with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'idealistic', 'biological and psychological maturity', and 'impulsive'. There are appropriate attempts at less common phrasing such as 'health scare' and 'unhealthy lifestyle'. While some word choices are fairly standard and straightforward (e.g., 'real job', 'big responsibilities'), the vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise meanings without any impedance to communication. The lexical control is solid, making it a comfortable Band 7 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or relative clauses ('When we are young, our opinions are often formed...', 'A young student might have the habit...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is generally very good. Punctuation is accurate, and control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is well-maintained throughout. While the range of complex structures could be slightly more adventurous to reach the highest bands, the current control easily satisfies the Band 7 criteria.

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