Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-19
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 5.0)
Nowadays, people are living longer than before. This means that the number of elderly people is increasing in many countries. I think this situation has both advantages and disadvantages.
There are some benefits of having more old people. Firstly, elderly people have a lot of experience and knowledge. They can give advice to young people. Secondly, they can help their family by taking care of children.
However, an aging population also causes some problems. The government has to spend more money on hospitals and pensions. Also, there may be fewer young workers, so the country can have a shortage of workers.
In conclusion, an aging population has some advantages, but I think the disadvantages are greater.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response touches upon both the advantages and disadvantages of an aging population, expressing a clear personal position that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. Ideas such as the experience of older people and the increased government spending on healthcare are mentioned. However, the most critical issue is that the text is severely under-length, containing only 116 words against the mandatory 250-word minimum. This results in extreme under-development of ideas, meaning the response can only be addressed minimally according to the band descriptors. To improve, the student must fully expand each supporting point with detailed explanations, real-world examples, and deeper analysis rather than simply listing brief statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text shows a basic attempt at organisation, with a clear introduction, separate body paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a short conclusion. Basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to structure the text. Paragraphing is visually present, although the paragraphs are extremely short due to the overall lack of word count. While the logical flow is easy to follow, the progression is stunted and lacks the sophisticated referencing and varied transitional phrases expected at higher bands. Nevertheless, within the limits of the short text, the basic framework of an essay is discernible.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally simple and repetitive, with phrases like 'elderly people', 'young people', and 'spend more money' appearing frequently. There are some appropriate topic-related terms such as 'aging population', 'hospitals', 'pensions', and 'shortage of workers'. However, the lexical range is very narrow and lacks less common lexical items or idiomatic language. Spelling and word choice are accurate for the basic terms attempted, but the overall resource remains minimally adequate for the task, preventing it from reaching a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay demonstrates control over basic sentence structures, mostly using simple and straightforward compound sentences (e.g., 'They can give advice to young people' and 'The government has to spend more money on hospitals and pensions'). There are very few grammatical errors, and the sentences are generally clear and grammatically correct. However, there is a distinct lack of complex grammatical structures such as subordinate clauses, conditional sentences, or passive voice constructions. Because the range of structures is extremely limited, the grammar score is capped, despite the relative accuracy of the simple sentences produced.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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