Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-23

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)

Although some people believe that it is common for people to change their habits and opinions as they get older because of their high maturity level. I believe that after repeating same habits for many years, people find it difficult to change them.

To begin with, some people believe that it is common for people to change their behavior with time as they get older. This is because when a person matures, they become more responsible and tend to behave according to the requirement. They understand the priorities and change them from personal to their family. Furthermore, after getting married people like to spend more time with their families, which they were used to spend with their friends. For example, a person who was used to spend most of his time with friends, tend to prioritise his valuable time for his family. As a result, they maintain a healthy and happy environment in the family, which builds relationships stronger.

However, I believe that after spending a significant amount of time while doing same activities, people find it difficult to change them. This is because when a person repeats same habits and opinions for many years, they become familiar to them and cannot imagine their life without such activities. Furthermore, some people cannot stop certain behaviour even after knowing their consequences. For example, a person who likes to eat junk foods such as chips and fries might continue eating them even after knowing that it is unhealthy. As a result, they might look for professional help to get rid off such habits.

To conclude, although some people might adapt to new habits easily, I believe that most of the people find it difficult to change their childhood habits. Also, despite being told about the bad results, they continue doing same behavior.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you ultimately disagree that people commonly change, arguing that long-established habits are difficult to alter. You also acknowledge the opposing view and give relevant examples, such as spending less time with friends after marriage and continuing to eat unhealthy food. However, the response does not fully resolve the task’s focus on both habits and opinions: most of your explanation and examples concern behaviour, while changes in opinions receive little development. The claim that people change priorities after becoming more responsible is relevant, but it is asserted rather than explored, and the conclusion introduces “childhood habits” without establishing why these are especially difficult to change. Develop the opinion aspect and explain your main reasons more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph presenting the opposing view, a paragraph explaining your own view, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “To begin with,” “However,” and “To conclude” make the direction of the argument easy to follow. Within paragraphs, examples generally follow the claims they illustrate. Some cohesion is mechanical, however, with repeated openings such as “This is because,” “Furthermore,” and “As a result.” References are occasionally unclear: in “They understand the priorities and change them,” it is not immediately clear what “them” refers to. The conclusion also repeats earlier points rather than drawing them together. Use more varied links and make pronoun references precise to strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the topic, including phrases such as “matures,” “prioritise,” “significant amount of time,” and “professional help.” There are also attempts at more specific language, for example “healthy and happy environment” and “consequences.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “change their behavior with time,” “change them from personal to their family,” and “get rid off such habits.” Repetition of “habits,” “people,” and “same” also limits flexibility. Aim for more natural expressions and precise vocabulary for opinions as well as behaviour; for instance, distinguish changing a routine from changing a belief. These improvements would make the argument clearer and more idiomatic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including clauses beginning “Although,” “because,” and “even after,” and most of the argument remains understandable. Some errors occur in sentence construction and grammatical patterns. The opening “Although some people believe…” is a dependent clause presented as a complete sentence, while “after repeating same habits” and “doing same activities” omit the article. In “a person … tend to prioritise,” the verb does not agree with its singular subject; “which they were used to spend” also has an incorrect clause structure. There are further issues with articles and number in “most of the people” and “same behavior.” Check that subordinate clauses are attached to complete sentences, and review articles, agreement, and verb patterns.

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