Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-23

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 7.5)

In many countries, people are living longer than in the past, resulting in a growing proportion of elderly people in society. Although an aging population can create some social and economic benefits, I believe that the disadvantages are greater, particularly because of the pressure it can place on public services and the working population.

One major advantage of having more elderly people is that they can contribute valuable knowledge and experience to society. Older people have often spent decades working and developing skills in their professions, and they can pass this knowledge on to younger generations. They can also provide support to their families by helping with household responsibilities and looking after grandchildren. For example, grandparents who regularly care for young children can allow their adult children to spend more time working. In addition, longer life expectancy can be seen as a sign of improvements in healthcare and living conditions.

However, an aging population can create serious problems for governments. The most obvious issue is the increasing cost of healthcare and social support. As people become older, they are generally more likely to require medical treatment and long-term care. Governments therefore have to spend more public money on hospitals, medicines and care services. At the same time, a larger elderly population can place pressure on the working population. If the number of retired people increases while the number of workers falls, there may be fewer people paying taxes to support public services. This can create a financial burden for both governments and younger generations.

Overall, although an aging population can benefit society through the knowledge, experience and family support provided by older people, I believe its disadvantages outweigh these benefits. The rising cost of healthcare and pensions, combined with the pressure placed on a smaller working population, makes an aging society a significant challenge for governments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The arguments regarding both the benefits (knowledge, family support) and the disadvantages (healthcare costs, economic pressure) are relevant and well-developed. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific examples or data to support your points, such as mentioning a specific country facing these demographic shifts, which would add depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks is handled smoothly using the cohesive device 'However'. You use a range of linking words such as 'Although', 'In addition', and 'At the same time' effectively. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow is natural, and the reader is never confused about the direction of your reasoning.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases like 'growing proportion', 'financial burden', and 'long-term care' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is precise and fits the context well, it is mostly functional rather than sophisticated. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more nuanced or less common collocations (e.g., 'demographic shift' instead of 'aging population' or 'fiscal strain' instead of 'financial burden') to show greater flexibility and precision in your word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is consistently accurate, and you use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For instance, the use of conditional structures ('If the number of retired people increases...') and subordinate clauses ('Although an aging population can create...') is handled correctly. There are very few errors, and the punctuation is used effectively to manage the flow of your sentences. The writing is clear and error-free for the vast majority of the text, which is a hallmark of a high-scoring response.

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