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)

People are living longer due to improvements in healthcare, living standards and medical technology. Although an aging population can create some difficulties for governments, I believe that having more elderly people also provides important benefits to society.

One major disadvantage of an aging population is the increased pressure on healthcare and social services. Older people are more likely to require medical treatment and long-term care, which can place a financial burden on governments. In addition, if the proportion of elderly people becomes very high, there may be fewer working-age people available to support the economy and pay taxes. For example, governments may need to spend more money on pensions and healthcare while receiving less tax revenue from the working population.

However, an aging population can also have several advantages. Firstly, elderly people possess valuable knowledge and experience that can be shared with younger generations. They can provide advice to younger people in areas such as education, careers and family life. Secondly, many older people continue to contribute to society after retirement by volunteering, helping their families or working part-time. For instance, grandparents may look after young children while their parents are working, allowing younger adults to participate more fully in the workforce.

In my view, although an aging population can increase government expenditure and create challenges for the workforce, these disadvantages can be managed through effective policies. At the same time, the experience and contribution of older people can be highly valuable to society. Therefore, I believe the advantages of having an aging population can outweigh the disadvantages when governments provide appropriate healthcare, pension and employment policies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the prompt, exploring both the disadvantages and advantages of an aging population before presenting a clear position in the introduction and conclusion. The writer argues that while challenges exist, the advantages can outweigh them through proper governance. Ideas are supported by relevant explanations and examples, such as grandparents providing childcare and the transmission of valuable knowledge. The position is maintained consistently throughout the text, demonstrating a good grasp of the requirements for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the disadvantages, advantages, and a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'One major disadvantage', 'In addition', 'However', and 'Secondly', ensuring that the relationships between ideas are transparent. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, contributing to the overall readability and cohesion of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, using appropriate terms related to the topic like 'proportion', 'financial burden', 'tax revenue', and 'expenditure'. There are attempts to use less common lexical items such as 'contribute to society', 'participate more fully', and 'appropriate healthcare'. Word choice is generally natural and accurate, with occasional common expressions that suffice for the task. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, showing good control over grammar and punctuation. Complex structures are handled quite well, as seen in conditional or participial phrases like 'while their parents are working, allowing younger adults to participate more fully in the workforce'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and minor errors do not impede communication. Control of tense and agreement is strong, matching the descriptors for a solid Band 7.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.