Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-18

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 7.5)

People are living longer today than at any other time in history due to improvements in healthcare, nutrition, and living standards. While some argue that an aging population places a heavy burden on governments, others believe that older people make valuable contributions to society. In my opinion, although an aging population creates significant economic and social challenges, the benefits can outweigh the disadvantages if governments adopt effective policies to support active and healthy aging.

One of the main disadvantages of an aging population is the increased pressure on public finances. Governments must spend more on pensions, healthcare, and elderly care services, which can strain national budgets. At the same time, a smaller proportion of working-age people means there are fewer taxpayers to support these expenses. This may lead to labour shortages, reduced economic growth, and higher taxes for younger generations. For example, countries such as Japan have faced difficulties maintaining economic productivity because of their rapidly aging populations.

On the other hand, older people can make significant contributions to society. Many retirees continue to work part-time, volunteer in their communities, or provide childcare for their grandchildren, allowing younger parents to remain in the workforce. In addition, elderly people possess valuable knowledge and professional experience that can be shared with younger generations through mentoring and consultancy roles. Their wisdom and life experience also help strengthen families and communities by promoting social stability and preserving cultural traditions.

Furthermore, advances in healthcare mean that many older adults remain healthy and active well beyond retirement age. Rather than being dependent on government support, they often participate in lifelong learning, entrepreneurship, and community service. If governments encourage flexible retirement policies and invest in preventive healthcare, older citizens can continue contributing economically and socially for many years.

In conclusion, although an aging population presents challenges such as increased healthcare costs and labour shortages, these problems can be managed through appropriate government policies. The experience, skills, and social contributions of older people provide substantial benefits to society. Therefore, I believe the advantages of an aging population outweigh its disadvantages to a considerable extent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student addresses all parts of the task thoroughly and maintains a clear position throughout the essay. The introduction successfully outlines both sides of the argument and clearly states the writer's opinion. Body paragraphs are well-developed, exploring both the economic and social disadvantages, such as increased public expenditure and labour shortages, as well as the positive contributions of older adults, including mentorship, childcare, and continued workforce participation. The ideas are extended and supported with a relevant real-world example, specifically mentioning Japan. The conclusion neatly ties the arguments together and reaffirms the position. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 8 descriptor, as all parts of the prompt are covered well and ideas are fully developed with only minor generalisations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct sub-theme (e.g., economic disadvantages, social contributions, and proactive policy solutions). Cohesive devices such as 'At the same time', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used naturally and flexibly to guide the reader through the argument. Referencing is clear throughout, and the overall progression of ideas feels seamless. This corresponds well to a Band 7 or Band 8 level, demonstrating solid coherence and skilful management of cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, flexible lexical resource suitable for an academic task. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used effectively throughout the text, such as 'public finances', 'labour shortages', 'economic productivity', 'lifelong learning', and 'preventive healthcare'. Word choice is generally precise and natural, with only rare minor inaccuracies. Spelling and word formation are flawless across the entire response. This level of vocabulary control fully satisfies the criteria for Band 7.5 to 8.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The student successfully employs conditional structures ('If governments encourage...'), participial phrases ('allowing younger parents to remain...'), and relative clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled with precision. Minor slips are virtually absent, and control over complex syntax is strong. This represents a solid Band 8 performance in grammatical range and accuracy.

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