Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-22

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 some people to change their habits and their opinions as they get older with time. However, it may not be common with all the people. This essay will throw a light with valid reasons supporting the argument with a relevant example.

Several people have different experiences and exposure in their life. Moreover, the positive or negative home atmosphere plays a crucial role at the very beginning of everyone's life in determining the growth of an individual in terms and habits and building an opinion towards someone. Due to this, some people are more open towards changes occuring in life. They are keen to develop certain relations and friendships which will help them in the overall journey. These people see a drastic change in their habits and opinions, but they are contributing towards a positive change in life because of their surrounding. For Example businessman anant ambani was more prome to change and growth in his life because of the people he dealth with at a very samll age. However, not all people are blessed with intellectual surroundings.

Some people depending on their domestic environment develop a certain approach in their life which is more rigid in nature and expect life to go a pre-defined way. People adoptive of this approach are less willing to change their approach in terms of their habits and opinions. Moreover, they cannot ensure significant growth in their life and are more exposed to hardships moving forward.

Hence, we understand that some people are willing to change their habits and opinions while others are not. Hence, I partially agree with argument

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the topic by explaining why some people change and why others remain resistant, and your final sentence gives a clear, though qualified, position: “I partially agree.” The discussion of upbringing and surroundings is relevant, but the response does not fully explain how people’s habits and opinions change specifically as they get older; much of the focus is on childhood environment and personal growth. The example of Anant Ambani is also asserted rather than explained, so its connection to changing habits or opinions is unclear. To strengthen the response, develop the age-related aspect directly and support each main reason with a specific, clearly linked example. The position would also be more convincing if the conclusion briefly summarised why you agree only partially.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs contrasting people who welcome change with those who resist it, and a conclusion. This gives the reader an overall route through your argument. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the first body paragraph moves from life experiences to relationships, then to a public figure without showing the links between these points. Connectors such as “Moreover,” “However,” and “Hence” help signal relationships, but their use can feel mechanical, and “Hence” is repeated in the conclusion. Some references are also vague, including “this approach” and “they,” which can make it harder to identify the exact idea or group. Use clearer topic sentences and link each example explicitly to the point it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “home atmosphere,” “rigid in nature,” “pre-defined way,” and “significant growth.” These choices show an effort to express abstract ideas about upbringing and personal development. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “throw a light,” “open towards changes,” and “more prone to change and growth.” Spelling errors, including “occuring,” “dealth,” and “samll,” also reduce the accuracy of the vocabulary. Some phrases are vague or imprecise, for example “intellectual surroundings” and “develop certain relations.” Aim for natural collocations and precise wording, and proofread spelling. This will make your meaning clearer while preserving the ideas you are trying to express.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more extended sentence forms, including the complex sentence beginning “Due to this, some people are more open…” and the clause “which is more rigid in nature.” Most of the argument remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward constructions affect clarity. For example, “plays a crucial role … in determining the growth of an individual in terms and habits” has an incomplete or unclear grammatical relationship, while “people adoptive of this approach” does not form a correct noun phrase. The sentence about the businessman also lacks clear punctuation and structure. Practise building complex sentences around one clear main clause, check that modifiers attach to the intended noun, and review articles, prepositions, and punctuation. These changes would make your varied sentence forms more controlled.

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