Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-20

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that now is the best time in history to be living.

What is your opinion about this?

What other time in history would be interesting to live in?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

It is often claimed that the present is the best period in human history to be alive. I largely agree with this opinion because modern society offers significant advantages in terms of healthcare, education, technology and personal freedom. Nevertheless, if I had the opportunity to experience another period I would choose the 1960s because of the social and remarkable changes that took place during that time.

There are several reasons why the present can be considered the best time to live. First, advances in medicine have greatly increased life expectancy and improved people's quality of life. Many diseases that were once considered fatal can now be prevented or treated effectively. Second, modern technology has made communication and access to information much easier. For example, people can communicate with friends and relatives anywhere in the world within seconds and can access educational resources through the internet. Furthermore, people today generally have greater access to education and more freedom to choose their careers and lifestyles than people in many previous periods.

Despite these advantages, I believe that 1960s would have been an interesting period to experience. This decade defined by significant cultural and social transformation. The development of popular music, particularly the rise of internationally successful bands and singers had a major influence on young people. In addition, there were important movements promoting civil rights and equality. I would have found it fascinating to witness these changes and to see how ordinary people willing to challenge traditional attitudes.

However, living 1960s would have disadvantages. Medical technology was less advanced, communication was slower, and many social inequalities were still widespread. Therefore, although I would enjoy experiencing the atmosphere of that decade, I would ultimately prefer to live in the present.

In conclusion, I believe that the current era is the best time to live because of improvements in healthcare, technology, education, and personal freedom. However, the 1960s would be the historical period that I would most like to experience because of its extraordinary social, cultural and technological development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt clearly. You have established a firm position on why the present is the best time to live and provided a well-reasoned alternative period (the 1960s). The ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as medical advancements and the civil rights movement. The argument is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes your views. To reach a higher band, you could further develop the 'why' behind the 1960s choice by contrasting it more deeply with modern life, perhaps by discussing the trade-off between technological convenience and the perceived 'authenticity' of that era.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of the present and the appeal of the past is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Nevertheless', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition' effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the prompt. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is always clear, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'life expectancy', 'cultural and social transformation', and 'widespread'. The language is generally precise and appropriate for the task. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede meaning. To improve, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to move beyond a functional level of vocabulary, such as using 'unprecedented' instead of 'significant' or 'paradigm shift' when discussing social changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. However, there are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'This decade defined by...' (should be 'This decade was defined by...') and 'see how ordinary people willing to challenge...' (should be 'see how ordinary people were willing to challenge...'). Additionally, there are missing articles, such as 'living 1960s' (should be 'living in the 1960s'). Despite these occasional errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free and communication is never hindered.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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