Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-13
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)
As far as this topic is concerned, I believe that an aging population has both advantages and disadvantages. However, in my opinion, the disadvantages are greater because a large elderly population can put considerable pressure on governments and younger generations.
Firstly, having more elderly people can bring some important benefits to society. Older people have valuable experience and knowledge that can be shared with younger generations. They can guide young people in their personal and professional lives. Moreover, many elderly people continue to work after retirement age if they are healthy, which means they can contribute to the economy and pay taxes. For example, experienced teachers and professionals can continue working and sharing their knowledge with younger workers.
On the other hand, an aging population can create serious problems for governments. Elderly people usually need more healthcare and social support, which can increase government spending. In addition, when the number of retired people becomes higher than the working population, there may be fewer workers paying taxes to support public services. For instance, governments may have to spend more money on pensions, hospitals and care homes. This can create a financial burden on younger generations.
In conclusion, although an aging population can provide valuable experience and knowledge to society, I believe that its disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Governments should prepare for an aging society by improving healthcare, retirement systems and encouraging healthy elderly people to remain active in the workforce.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of an aging population while clearly taking a position that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. The ideas presented are relevant, such as the sharing of experience and economic contributions versus healthcare costs and pension burdens. However, the task achievement is impacted by the length check: the response contains 239 words, falling short of the required 250-word minimum. This minor under-length means the development of ideas is slightly constrained, aligning the overall execution with Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response demonstrates a clear overall progression and logical organization. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with an introduction, moving to advantages, then disadvantages, and concluding with a summary and recommendation. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately. Referencing is generally clear and straightforward, earning a solid Band 7.0 for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'considerable pressure', 'valuable experience', 'financial burden', and 'workforce'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though phrase choices are sometimes quite standard rather than sophisticated (e.g., 'serious problems', 'important benefits'). Spelling and word choice are accurate, and communication is never impeded. This performance sits comfortably at Band 6.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'Although an aging population can provide valuable experience and knowledge to society, I believe that its disadvantages outweigh the advantages.' Grammatical control is generally strong, with frequent error-free sentences and correct punctuation. Minor errors are absent, and complex structures are handled with adequate accuracy. This warrants a Band 7.0 for grammatical range and accuracy.
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