Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In many countries, people are living longer than ever before, resulting in a growing proportion of elderly people in society. Although an ageing population can provide valuable social benefits, it can also create considerable challenges for governments. This essay argues that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, but only to a limited extent.

One significant advantage of having more elderly people is the wealth of knowledge and experience they can offer to younger generations. Having faced different situations throughout their lives, older people can provide valuable guidance when younger family members encounter personal, financial or professional difficulties. Furthermore, elderly people can contribute to family life by helping to care for grandchildren and passing cultural traditions and values to younger generations. For example, grandparents may look after children while their parents are working, reducing childcare pressures and strengthening family relationships. Thus, an ageing population can make a positive contribution to families and social cohesion.

However, there are also significant disadvantages, particularly in terms of government expenditure. As people live longer, governments may need to allocate more money to healthcare and social-care services because older citizens are more likely to require medical treatment and long-term assistance. In addition, a larger retired population can increase spending on pensions and other forms of financial support. This may place considerable pressure on public finances, especially when the working-age population is relatively small. Consequently, governments may have fewer resources available for areas such as education, infrastructure and employment opportunities for younger people.

In conclusion, an ageing population offers important benefits through the experience, knowledge and family support provided by elderly people. Nevertheless, I believe that these advantages outweigh the disadvantages only to a limited extent, as the increasing costs of healthcare, social care and pensions can place substantial pressure on governments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of an aging population, as well as presenting a clear position throughout the response. In the introduction, the writer states that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages 'only to a limited extent.' Body paragraph 1 explores the benefits, such as the wealth of knowledge, family guidance, and grandparental childcare support. Body paragraph 2 examines the drawbacks, focusing on increased government expenditure on healthcare, social care, and pensions. The conclusion successfully reinforces the initial standpoint. Ideas are well developed and extended with relevant examples, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the prompt and aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured, starting with a well-defined introduction, moving through balanced body paragraphs, and concluding with a summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, including transition markers such as 'Although', 'Furthermore', 'For example', 'However', and 'Consequently'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic. The flow of ideas is smooth, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the line of argument. This performance satisfies all the requirements of Band 7 for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for some flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'growing proportion of elderly people', 'wealth of knowledge and experience', and 'place considerable pressure on public finances' show a good command of topic-specific language. The writer also successfully incorporates less common lexical items like 'social cohesion' and 'government expenditure'. There are very few lexical errors, and word choice is generally appropriate for an academic context. While it lacks the consistently sophisticated and fluent range required for higher bands, it comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a variety of complex structures with good control, including concessive clauses ('Although an ageing population can provide...'), conditional/participial integration ('especially when the working-age population is relatively small'), and relative clauses. There are numerous error-free sentences throughout the essay, and punctuation is handled accurately. Grammatical errors are practically absent, and control over complex sentence forms is strong. Because the majority of sentences are error-free and show a wide range of structures, this performance comfortably achieves a Band 8 for grammar.

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