Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-03

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 6.5)

I strongly agree that it is very probable for people to change habits and opinions as they get older. After all, change is the only thing that's permanent in this world.

Personally, I have shallow view of things when I was younger. I include habits of less importance to my routine as a child. I would normally consider spending my leisure time in doom scrolling and watching television series. I used to indulge in gossip and current events about celebrities. In short, my habits and opinions back then were only on the surface level and hold no weight to my well-being.

However, having faced the reality of life growing up, I learn to value the essence and depth that comes along with it, not just in what I watch but also in all that I do. Nowadays, I make sure to spend my leisure time on things that will benefit me in the long run. I watch documentaries about real life situations and read self-help books to develop and improve my social skills. I consume media and entertainment only to de-stress and not anymore in a way as if my life depended on it. I also involve myself in volunteer and social works to build new friendships.

In conclusion, as far as my own experience is concerned, it is indeed common for people to adapt to change. However, it is only a matter of personal preference if we lean on the positive or the negative side of things. It still all comes down to our choice.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the opening: you strongly agree that people change their habits and opinions as they age. The personal comparison between your earlier leisure habits and your current choices is relevant and gives the response a concrete example. You also acknowledge that change can be positive or negative in the conclusion. However, the discussion focuses much more on habits than on opinions: you mention having had a “shallow view of things,” but do not explain which opinions changed or why. The claim that change is common is also supported mainly by your own experience. To develop the response further, explain a specific change in belief and add a broader reason, such as how responsibilities or new experiences influence people’s views.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression: you state your view, describe your earlier habits, contrast them with your current lifestyle, and conclude by returning to the idea of change. Paragraphing supports this structure, and transitions such as “However,” “Nowadays,” and “In conclusion” help guide the reader. The contrast between past and present is especially easy to follow. Some links are less precise: “I include habits of less importance to my routine as a child” does not clearly connect to the following examples, and “It still all comes down to our choice” refers broadly to the preceding point without specifying what choice means. For stronger cohesion, make these references explicit and connect each example more directly to the central claim about both habits and opinions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary to describe personal change, including “doom scrolling,” “de-stress,” “well-being,” and “in the long run.” These choices make the example specific, and phrases such as “the essence and depth” show an attempt to express more abstract ideas. Some less common expressions are not fully natural or precise, however. “Shallow view of things” and “habits of less importance to my routine” are understandable but awkward, while “social works” is not the usual phrase for community service. Repetition of “habits,” “things,” and “change” also limits flexibility. Aim for more precise collocations and vocabulary that distinguishes changes in behaviour from changes in beliefs; this would make your ideas sound more controlled and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the contrast introduced by “However” and the purpose clauses in “to develop and improve my social skills” and “to build new friendships.” Most sentences communicate your meaning clearly, but some grammatical errors remain. In “I have shallow view of things when I was younger,” the article is missing and the tense shifts awkwardly; “I had a shallow view … when I was younger” would be more consistent. “I learn to value” and “I include habits” also need verb-form or tense changes to describe past development. In “habits and opinions … hold no weight,” the verb should agree with the plural subject, or the sentence could be recast. Review tense consistency in past-versus-present comparisons and check articles and agreement.

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