Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-08

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 5.5)

It is very common for elderly people to alter their interests and their opinions. I partly agree with this statement because as they get older it is difficult for them. On the other side, they can change if they want to try it.

On the one side, many older people try to change their habits and opinions as they aged. because in modern society they need to cooperate with their families or grandchildren according to them. As a result, it will help them to enjoy their life. For example, a child who is trying to gravitating his grandparents into yoga or gym session, because he want that his grand mother and grand father stay fit. In this way, it enables them to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

On the other side, there are number of people who find this difficult to change their habits and point of views because they do not want to alter their decisions. If it is ego or their attitude towards their decisions. For instance, a man who trying to convince his parents to get a retirement from their jobs. Besides that, they declined his son's idea. Therefore, continuing their employment unless incapable of doing it.

In conclusion, it depends on personal preference. If they get a benefit or convincing themselve in society, they can change it. If they depend on their habits or opinions, no one can change it unless they put their mind to alter their decisions. But it is crucial to change according to modern life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both sides of the question and give a qualified position: older people may change when they see a benefit, but change can also be difficult. The examples about grandparents trying exercise and parents continuing to work are relevant to habits and opinions. However, the position is not fully clear at the start: “because as they get older it is difficult for them” is not explained, and the conclusion shifts between saying change depends on personal preference and that it is “crucial” to change. The examples are also brief, so the reasons behind each change or resistance remain under-developed. Make your degree of agreement consistent and explain more clearly how each example supports it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On the one side,” “On the other side,” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow: the first body paragraph begins with a sentence fragment after “because,” while the second includes the unclear sequence “If it is ego or their attitude…” and “Therefore, continuing their employment…”. Some linking phrases are also mechanical, and references such as “it” in the conclusion do not always make clear whether you mean habits, opinions or change. Use complete topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to the point it illustrates.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to discuss change, including “habits,” “opinions,” “cooperate,” “healthy lifestyle,” and “personal preference.” There are also attempts at less common expressions, such as “alter their decisions.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, which sometimes makes the meaning less clear: “gravitating his grandparents into yoga,” “get a retirement from their jobs,” and “convincing themselve in society” do not express the intended ideas naturally. “Point of views” is also less idiomatic than “points of view.” Aim for precise, natural phrases and check word forms and spelling; this will make your ideas easier to understand without needing a much wider vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “If they get a benefit… they can change it.” However, control is uneven, and errors in sentence formation and verb forms sometimes make the reader work to understand the point. For example, “because in modern society they need to cooperate…” is a fragment, “a child who is trying to gravitating” combines incompatible verb forms, and “a man who trying to convince” is missing an auxiliary verb. The sentence beginning “If it is ego…” is also incomplete, while “Therefore, continuing their employment” lacks a main verb. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and finite verb, and check tense and agreement in longer examples.

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