Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-31

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)

People have different views about older people. A number of people argue that governments face several problems because of an ageing population, while others think that older people are useful for society. In this essay, I will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of an ageing population and explain why I believe that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages.

There are a number of reasons why some people believe that older people create problems for the government. One possible reason is that an ageing population increases the need for public services. This is because older people often need more healthcare, medicines and financial support. To provide these services, the government has to spend a large amount of money. For example, in Bangladesh, the government spends money on healthcare and other support for elderly people. As a result, less money may be available for other important sectors, such as education and transport.

However, an ageing population also has some important benefits. One major advantage is that older people can provide valuable experience to younger generations. This is because they have usually spent many years working and dealing with different situations. For example, experienced older people can give useful advice to younger people when they face problems in their work or business. As a result, younger people can avoid mistakes and make better decisions. In my case, my grandfather was a successful businessman. When my father started his business, he faced some problems because he had little experience. After taking advice from my grandfather, he was able to solve these problems quickly.

In conclusion, although an ageing population can create some problems for governments, I believe that its advantages outweigh the disadvantages because older people have valuable experience and can guide younger generations.

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 of an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the financial burden on governments and the transfer of wisdom from the elderly. However, the development is somewhat limited; while the points are clear, they could be extended further to reach a higher band. For instance, the discussion on the 'benefits' could explore economic contributions or volunteerism beyond just personal advice. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main argument.

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 topic sentence, and ideas progress logically. Cohesive devices such as 'One possible reason', 'However', and 'As a result' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of the argument is easy to follow. To reach a higher band, the student could use a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that referencing is even more seamless, as some transitions feel slightly formulaic.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'ageing population', 'public services', and 'financial support'. While the range is sufficient, it lacks the 'less common' or 'sophisticated' lexical items that characterize higher bands. The word choices are generally accurate, but there is a reliance on simpler, high-frequency words. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise collocations and academic vocabulary to demonstrate a more flexible range of expression.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, the use of conditional-like structures ('When my father started his business...') is accurate. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim to incorporate more varied sentence patterns, such as passive voice, inversion, or more sophisticated subordinate clauses, while maintaining the current level of accuracy.

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