Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-09

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 5.5)

In many countries, there are two views regarding elderly people living longer than before, one says it would cause issues for governments, while others believe society with elderly people would bring significant benefits. Elderly people aging longer may cause a problem with government regarding to provide pensions and help, but this does not outweigh the advantages of having them more to our society.

Longer lifespans basically means state has to provide pensions for more and more people. However, this is an indispensable role for government to offer for its residents, and with fifty years for working for the country it is actually fair for the state to provide pensions afterwards. Therefore, i believe this would create serious disadvantage for the country.

Regarding the latter opinion, people aging longer creates an opportunity for a family to have heartwarming moments. For instance, most families whose parents and grandparents are still alive are the ones with the most wholesome memories. Grandparents and parents are the people who teach their children about the hardships of life and a basic knowledge and kindness. In other words, those who grow up with a big family may become a good member of this cruel society. Moreover, living longer has benefits for many people because they can experience every aspects of this world, and learn new things.

In conclusion, despite the disadvantage for the government offering pension more longer for elderly people, this disadvantage could not outweigh the benefits the elderly people bring to the society. Therefore, i believe aging population creates more benefits for the society and the next generation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the challenges and benefits of an aging population. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the financial burden on governments, the argument is slightly contradictory; you acknowledge the cost but then state it is an 'indispensable role,' which weakens the analysis of the 'disadvantage' side. The benefits section focuses heavily on family dynamics and personal growth, which is relevant but could be expanded with more societal or economic perspectives to achieve a higher band. The position is clear throughout, but the depth of argumentation remains at a basic level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However,' 'Therefore,' and 'For instance' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. For example, the jump from discussing government pensions to family moments is quite sudden. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of the argument could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'aging population,' 'pensions,' and 'lifespans.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'aging longer' (instead of 'living longer') and 'offering pension more longer.' To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to avoid repetition and enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'one says it would cause issues' (subject-verb agreement/pronoun reference), 'with fifty years for working' (preposition usage), and 'every aspects' (pluralization). Punctuation is mostly accurate, but there are minor slips throughout. The errors do not impede communication, but they do prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses will help improve your accuracy.

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