Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26
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 argued that the present is the best period in history to be alive. I largely agree with this view because modern life provides better healthcare, technology and opportunities than most previous periods. However, I would also be interested in experiencing life during the 1960s.
One major reason why the present is a particularly good time to live is the development of technology and medicine. People today have access to advanced medical treatment, the internet and convenient methods of communication. For example, a person can communicate instantly with family members living in another country through video calls. In addition, many serious diseases can now be treated more effectively than they could in the past. These developments have improved both life expectancy and overall quality of life.
Despite these advantages, I think the 1960s would be an interesting period to experience. This was a time of significant social and cultural change in many parts of the world. Music, fashion and popular culture were developing rapidly, while important movements for social equality were gaining attention. I would particularly enjoy experiencing the music and cultural atmosphere of that decade. However, I would only want to experience it for a short period because many modern conveniences and medical services were not available at that time.
In conclusion, I believe that the present is probably the best time in history to live because of advances in healthcare, technology and communication. Nevertheless, the 1960s would be an interesting period to experience because of its unique cultural and social changes.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt clearly. You have taken a firm position regarding the present being the best time to live and provided a balanced, logical argument for why the 1960s would be an interesting alternative. The ideas are well-developed, with specific examples such as medical advancements and the cultural shifts of the 1960s. The response is well-structured and maintains a clear focus throughout, ensuring that the reader understands your perspective on both aspects of the question. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by providing more nuanced analysis or contrasting the two periods in greater depth.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Despite these advantages', and 'Nevertheless', which help to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The referencing is clear, and the flow between the present-day benefits and the historical interest of the 1960s is handled naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'significant social and cultural change', 'advanced medical treatment', and 'overall quality of life' show a solid command of language. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise, less common lexical items or idiomatic collocations that demonstrate a more nuanced control of the language, rather than relying on standard descriptive terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The grammar is consistently accurate throughout the essay. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively, such as 'Although I would be interested in experiencing life during the 1960s' and 'These developments have improved both life expectancy and overall quality of life.' There are very few errors, and those that do occur do not impede communication. The punctuation is also handled correctly. To reach the highest band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as inversion or more sophisticated conditional forms, to show greater flexibility.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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