Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01
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 often observed that people change their habits and opinions as they grow older. I strongly agree with this statement because life experiences, increased responsibilities, and greater knowledge often influence the way people think and behave over time.
One of the main reasons people change their habits is that their priorities shift as they age. For example, many young people enjoy staying up late, spending time with friends, and trying new experiences. However, as they enter adulthood, they often become more focused on their careers, health, and family responsibilities. As a result, they may develop healthier routines, such as exercising regularly, eating nutritious food, and managing their time more effectively.
In addition, opinions frequently change as people gain more experience and understanding of the world. Young individuals may hold strong views on certain issues based on limited knowledge or the influence of their peers. However, after encountering different situations and meeting people from diverse backgrounds, they often become more open-minded. For instance, a person who once believed that success depends only on academic achievement may later realize that practical skills, determination, and communication abilities are equally important.
Furthermore, major life events can significantly affect both habits and opinions. Marriage, parenthood, employment, and travel expose individuals to new challenges and perspectives. These experiences encourage personal growth and often lead people to reconsider their previous beliefs. For example, becoming a parent may change a person's attitude toward financial planning, education, and work-life balance.
In conclusion, I agree that it is very common for people to change both their habits and opinions as they get older. Changes in responsibilities, life experiences, and personal development naturally influence how individuals think and behave throughout their lives.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.5
The response fully and effectively addresses all parts of the task. The writer takes a clear and well-developed position right from the introduction, stating strong agreement with the prompt. Each body paragraph explores a distinct and logical facet of the issue—shifts in priorities, evolving worldviews through new experiences, and the impact of major life events—providing strong and relevant examples, such as transitions from social habits to career focus and the influence of parenthood on financial planning. The ideas are thoroughly extended and supported throughout, leaving no part of the prompt underdeveloped.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0
Ideas are logically sequenced, guiding the reader smoothly from the thesis statement through well-differentiated supporting arguments to a clear concluding summary. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a single, coherent theme. Cohesive devices such as 'One of the main reasons', 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are managed well to connect ideas without feeling mechanical, contributing to a seamless overall progression of thought.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible vocabulary range suitable for discussing personal development and psychological shifts. Uncommon lexical items are used skillfully, such as 'priorities shift', 'diverse backgrounds', 'open-minded', and 'work-life balance'. Word choice and collocations are natural and accurate throughout, with only occasional minor slips that do not detract from the clear and sophisticated conveyance of ideas.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5
A wide range of complex sentence structures is used effectively and naturally, including conditional ideas, relative clauses, and participial phrases like 'After encountering different situations and meeting people from diverse backgrounds'. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical control and accurate punctuation. Verb forms, tenses, subject-verb agreement, and articles are handled with precision from start to finish.
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