Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-21

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 6.0)

In numerous nations, individuals now live longer than ever before. Some individuals argue that an aging population causes challenges for governments whereas others are of the belief that elderly people have got their own merits to the society. When one thinks critically about arguments, it is easy to conclude that both arguments have merit. Regardless, I am of the opinion that elderly people play a very crucial role in any advancing society.

Most people claim that elderly people are not vital in the growth of a nation. This is because they are less productive. Firstly, they cannot work on their farms to produce agricultural yields. They also cannot be of help in manufacturing industries. It is because of this aspect that some individuals call them a burden.

Some proponents also argue that the money the government sets aside to help the aging population should be used to support fundamental state projects. They claim the elderly are of no important use to the growth of the economy. Moreover, they claim that spending government money on the elderly is unwise.

I am of the view that the elderly play a vital role in the society. They provide advice when the society deviated from the right path.Elderly people who have been in leadership also provide wise counsel to current leaders in times of trouble. A good example is during the gen-z protests in Kenya. The President was unaware of the danger that lie ahead. It took the intervention of former presidents, who are now aging, to bring the country into order.

It is because of that fundamental aspect that I conclude that the aging population has more advantages than disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the challenges and benefits of an aging population. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the arguments regarding economic burden are clear, the counter-arguments regarding the 'wisdom' of the elderly are less developed and rely on a single, specific example (the Kenya protests) rather than broader societal or economic analysis. The position is clear throughout, but the essay would benefit from more depth in the supporting arguments to reach a higher band. The conclusion is brief but effectively restates the writer's stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'It is because of that' are used to link ideas. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is slightly repetitive, as both discuss the economic burden. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some sentences feel slightly disjointed. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, though the flow could be improved with more sophisticated linking phrases.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'proponents', 'fundamental', and 'deviated', which are used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing like 'be of help' or 'no important use'. To improve, the student should aim for more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to convey nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'elderly people have got their own merits to the society' (should be 'in society') and 'the danger that lie ahead' (should be 'lies'). Punctuation is generally accurate, though there is a missing space after a period in the fourth paragraph. While the errors do not impede communication, the range of complex structures is limited, and the control over grammar is not consistent enough for a higher band.

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

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