Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-20

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)

In most of the countries life expectancy of people has increased. It is often argued by some people that older population increase dificultes for governments while, other believe that society gets benefits from eldrely people. From my perspective advantages of aging population are more.

One major disadvantage of an aging population is the increased pressure on healthcare and social security systems. As people become older, they are more likely to require medical treatment and long-term care. This means that governments may need to spend more money on hospitals, medicines and pensions. In addition, if the number of retired people increases while the working-age population decreases, there may be fewer workers paying taxes to support public services. As a result, governments may face financial difficulties if they do not plan effectively for an aging population.

However, having more elderly people can also bring several important benefits. Firstly, older people have considerable knowledge and life experience, which they can pass on to younger generations. For example, retired professionals can volunteer in schools, community organisations or workplaces, where they can share their skills and experience. Secondly, many elderly people continue to work or run businesses after reaching retirement age, which allows them to remain economically active and contribute to society. Furthermore, older family members can often provide support to younger relatives by helping with childcare, particularly when both parents have full-time jobs.

In my opinion, although an aging population can place additional pressure on healthcare, pensions and government finances, these problems can be reduced through effective planning. If governments invest in healthcare, encourage older people to remain economically active and create suitable retirement policies, society can benefit from their knowledge and experience. Therefore, the contribution of elderly people can be significant, especially in societies where different generations support each other.

In conclusion, an aging population can create financial and healthcare challenges for governments, but I believe its advantages are greater. The experience, skills and social contributions of older people can benefit both younger generations and society as a whole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the problems and benefits of an aging population, and clearly states an opinion that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported well, such as explaining how older people contribute through volunteering, childcare, and continued economic activity. The arguments are relevant and well-developed, aligning with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from an introduction to disadvantages, benefits, a counter-argument/nuance, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'One major disadvantage', 'However', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, reflecting solid Band 7 competence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'life expectancy', 'social security systems', 'economically active', and 'retirement policies'. There are a few spelling and word choice inaccuracies, such as 'dificultes' instead of 'difficulties' and 'eldrely' instead of 'elderly'. However, these errors do not impede communication, and the writer attempts less common vocabulary, placing this firmly at Band 6.5, which rounds to a 6.5 or solid 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating conditional and subordinate clauses successfully (e.g., 'As people become older, they are more likely to require medical treatment...'). There are some minor grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('In most of the countries life expectancy' should be 'In most countries, the life expectancy'), but these errors rarely impede communication and sentence control is generally good, supporting a Band 6.5 score.

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