Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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)

People changing their habits and opinions with growing age has become very common. I completlely agree with this statement as life experiences and maturity brings a huge change in ones behaviour and mindset. This essay will explain reasons for my view.

The first key point to consider is that different life experiences influences an indvidual's behaviour. This is primarily because when people deal with hard situations in their lives it changes the way they think and make decisions. In other words, at the young age people make implusive decisions and build habits those give them thrill, but with growing age this implusive behaviour changes as they understand things can be handled with a strategy as well. For example, young ones always spend money on video games and clothes, but as they grow older these habits change as they start thinking about their building future. This demonstrates that age brings a change in human beings.

Another significant factor is increased responsibilties that an individual goes through in their life. The main reason for this is that youngsters do not have to deal with responsibility and duty of their handling the family but, once they reach that stage it forces them to make decisions for the overall family. Consequently, maturity changes their mindset from being responsible for themselves to taking care of the whole family. For instance, at early age people

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

Your position is clear from the opening: “I completely agree,” and you give two relevant reasons—life experiences and increased responsibilities. The examples about spending habits and caring for a family help connect these reasons to changes in behaviour and opinions. However, the ideas are only partly developed: the first example focuses on habits, while the task also asks about opinions, and the second paragraph ends mid-sentence (“For instance, at early age people”), leaving its example and explanation incomplete. The response also contains 229 words, below the required 250, so the argument lacks the space needed for fuller support. Develop both habits and opinions explicitly, complete the second example, and add a brief conclusion that restates your view.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a logical sequence from life experience to responsibility. Signposting such as “The first key point,” “Another significant factor,” and “Consequently” helps readers follow the argument. This overall arrangement is coherent, but some linking is mechanical, and the second body paragraph stops abruptly, so the progression is not completed. The opening also promises that the essay “will explain reasons,” but there is no concluding paragraph to bring those reasons together. Use transitions more naturally, ensure each paragraph develops a complete point, and add a concise conclusion. Clearer links between the examples and the task’s focus on both habits and opinions would also strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to discuss the topic, including “life experiences,” “impulsive decisions,” “maturity,” and “responsibilities.” These choices make the main ideas understandable, and some phrases, such as “mindset” and “overall family,” show an attempt to express more specific concepts. However, spelling errors and imprecise or awkward collocations are noticeable: “completlely,” “indvidual's,” “responsibilties,” and “building future” reduce accuracy. Repetition of “change” and “people” also limits flexibility. Aim for more natural combinations and check spelling carefully; for example, “plan for their future” is more idiomatic than “thinking about their building future.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional structure in “when people deal with hard situations… it changes the way they think” and a result clause beginning “Consequently.” Most of the meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “life experiences and maturity brings” needs plural agreement (“bring”), and “different life experiences influences” should be “influence.” The phrase “duty of their handling the family” has an unclear grammatical construction, while “at early age” needs an article. The final sentence is incomplete, which also interrupts accuracy. Review subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence completion, while continuing to use complex structures.

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