Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-29

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries, people are now living longer than ever before. Some people say an aging population creates problems for governments. Other people think there are benefits if society has more elderly people.

To what extent do the advantages of having an aging population outweigh the disadvantages?

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

Student answer (Band 7.0)

In the modern world, with rapid advances in science and technology, the average life expectancy is higher than ever. A handful of citizens believe that the aging population is a massive liability for the authorities and contributes little to society. I disagree with this statement, as older citizens still contribute to society with their wisdom and experience, although they cannot physically contribute to the nation

On the one hand, older citizens are more vulnerable to risks and injuries, and need more care and attention. They have limited physical contributions to their family and nation, as they are more prone to injuries. Additionally, aging populations need more attention and care, as they are also more prone to diseases. These reasons make them more of a liability for the nation as they do not participate in the workforce of the country. For instance, a nation with a younger population can accelerate the development process if the do not need to look after the aging population. They can invest more time and effort in infrastructure development, which is the backbone of any nation.

On the other hand, aging populations are very significant to society. The knowledge and wisdom they carry can be very significant to the upbringing of the younger populations. Aging populations can still contribute to the nation through less physically demanding work. In contrast, the aging population causes the least problems, such as crime and violence. For instance, Hong Kong has a large aging population, but the older population has not limited its development. Hong Kong is thriving for more progress even with a large proportion of the population being old-aged.

To conclude, old-aged citizens may not be the backbone of any nation, but they still hold a significant role in shaping the younger generation. Their wisdom and experience over the decades should be cherished and respected to ensure a prosperous nation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have identified both the disadvantages (healthcare costs, lack of workforce participation) and the advantages (wisdom, social stability). However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding Hong Kong is a good attempt at an example, but it lacks specific detail to fully support the claim that the aging population does not hinder development. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more thoroughly explained and linked back to the core argument of whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Additionally', and 'In contrast' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the discussion of physical contributions and the mention of infrastructure development in the first body paragraph is a bit abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the central topic of each paragraph is clear, which helps maintain a coherent progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'life expectancy', 'liability', and 'thriving'. There are some instances of repetitive phrasing, such as the repeated use of 'aging population' and 'significant'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, there is a lack of more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response. Word choice is generally accurate, and there are no spelling errors that impede communication, but expanding your range of synonyms and collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'if the do not need' (should be 'if they do not need') and 'the aging population causes the least problems' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Your control of punctuation is generally good, and the errors present do not impede the reader's understanding. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, with greater precision to demonstrate higher control.

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