Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-24

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 6.5)

In some countries, people are now living longer than ever before. Some individuals argue that an aging population creates problems for governments, while others believe that there are benefits if society has more elderly people. Although this view offers some disadvantages, I completely believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

One of the main advantages of having elderly people in society is that they play an important role in making effective decisions. This is because older people are more experienced than younger generations, and they help in making any decisions. For example, if an individual is confused in choosing between career paths, an older person can give advice that may help them to make a decision. Another benefit is that they motivate their younger generations. If a child is struggling with any problems regarding a job or a financial problem, an elder person helps them to remain motivated in their tough times.

However, there are certain drawbacks to consider. The biggest concern for governments is to provide a large amount of pension to elderly people. If an individual has retired from a job, the government initiates pension for their expenses. If there are a large number of older people in the society, the government has to spend a huge amount of money towards the old age group. Additionally, government hospitals will have a large number of patients. Older people may suffer from various kinds of diseases, they often become admitted in the government hospital, which may increase pressure on the government.

In conclusion, this view has certain challenges such as increasing pressure on governments and a huge amount of investment in pension schemes, its benefits in terms of providing motivation to young generations and effective decision-making are more significant. Therefore, I strongly believe that the advantages of having more elderly people clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments regarding decision-making and motivation are relevant, though they could be further extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The disadvantages are also clearly identified, specifically the economic and healthcare burdens. The conclusion effectively restates the position. To improve, ensure that the supporting points are more fully developed; for instance, instead of stating that older people help with 'any decisions,' provide a more concrete example of how this impacts societal stability or economic productivity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'One of the main advantages,' 'Another benefit,' 'However,' and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is smooth. While the structure is sound, the range of cohesive devices could be slightly more varied to avoid a somewhat mechanical feel in the transition between sentences. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the clarity of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. You use terms like 'pension schemes,' 'effective decision-making,' and 'financial problem' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise, less common lexical items related to the topic, such as 'demographic shift,' 'intergenerational wisdom,' or 'fiscal strain.' There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, but the vocabulary lacks the sophistication required for an 8.0 or above.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically accurate. There are some minor errors, such as 'they often become admitted in the government hospital' (should be 'are often admitted to') and 'the government initiates pension' (should be 'initiates pension schemes'). While you show control over basic grammar, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more varied subordinate clauses and conditional structures to demonstrate greater flexibility in your writing.

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

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