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 so many countries, the life expectancy has increased significantly, leading to a larger proportion of elderly people in society. While this demographic shift poses certain challenges for governments, I believe the benefits of having an aging population outweigh the drawbacks.

One major disadvantage is the financial burden placed on governments. With more elderly citizens, states must spend more on healthcare, pensions, and social welfare. For example, countries like Japan and Germany already allocate a large portion of their national budget to support retired people. Additionally, a smaller working-age population means fewer taxpayers, which can slow economic growth and put pressure on public services.

However, the advantages of an aging society are also significant. Firstly, elderly people possess valuable experience and knowledge that can benefit younger generations. Many retired professionals continue to work part-time as mentors, consultants, or volunteers, passing on skills that are not taught in schools.

Secondly, older citizens often contribute to the economy as consumers. They spend on healthcare, tourism, and leisure, which creates new jobs and business opportunities in these sectors. For instance, the rise of "silver tourism" in many Asian countries is directly linked to the spending power of seniors.

In conclusion, although an aging population creates challenges such as higher government spending and a reduced workforce, the advantages are more important. The wisdom, the experience, and the economic contribution of the elderly people can greatly enrich society. Therefore, governments should focus on policies that support healthy aging rather than viewing Solely as a problem

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples such as 'silver tourism' and the economic impact in Germany and Japan. The argument is developed logically throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the conclusion could be more fully developed; it currently ends abruptly with a grammatical error ('viewing Solely as a problem'), which leaves the final thought incomplete. However, the overall task response is clear and focused.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the disadvantages from the advantages. Cohesive devices such as 'One major disadvantage', 'Additionally', 'However', and 'Firstly' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. The transition between the economic burden and the economic contribution of the elderly is handled well, ensuring the essay remains coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'demographic shift', 'working-age population', 'social welfare', and 'silver tourism' effectively. There is a good attempt to use varied language, although some phrasing is slightly repetitive. The word choice is accurate, and the meaning is always clear. While there are no major errors in word choice, the range could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest bands. The final sentence contains a minor error in word usage ('viewing Solely as a problem').

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There is effective use of complex structures, such as 'While this demographic shift poses certain challenges... I believe...'. Punctuation is mostly correct, though the final sentence is incomplete and lacks a proper object for the verb 'viewing', which is a noticeable error. Despite this, the majority of the text is grammatically sound, and the errors do not impede communication.

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

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