Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-30

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)

Nowadays, people are living longer than they did in the past, and this has led to an increase in the elderly population in many countries. Although an aging population can create some problems for governments, I believe that it also has several benefits for society.

One major disadvantage of an aging population is the pressure it puts on public services. Older people usually need more medical care because they are more likely to suffer from health problems. As a result, governments may have to spend more money on hospitals, medicines and elderly care. Another problem is that there may be fewer working-age people. This can lead to a shortage of workers and reduce the amount of tax money collected by the government.

However, there are also some important advantages. Firstly, elderly people have a lot of knowledge and experience. They can share their skills and advice with younger generations, especially in families and workplaces. For example, grandparents can teach young people about traditional values and help them make better decisions. Secondly, older people can contribute to society by doing voluntary work or helping their families. Some elderly people look after their grandchildren, which allows parents to spend more time working.

In conclusion, an aging population can create pressure on healthcare systems and the workforce. Nevertheless, elderly people can provide valuable experience, support their families and contribute to society in different ways. Therefore, I believe that the advantages of having an aging population can outweigh the disadvantages if governments provide suitable healthcare and social support.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task prompt, discussing both the problems caused by an aging population and the benefits, and clearly stating a position that the advantages can outweigh the disadvantages under certain conditions. The position is maintained throughout the essay. Main ideas are relevant, such as increased healthcare costs and labor shortages for disadvantages, and knowledge sharing and family support for advantages. However, while the ideas are clearly presented, they are somewhat standard and could be further extended with more specific examples or depth of analysis to reach the highest band levels. Overall, the task is well-managed, covering all required elements adequately and fulfilling the communicative purpose of an academic essay.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and a discernible overall progression from introduction to body paragraphs and a concluding summary. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct theme—disadvantages in the second paragraph and advantages in the third. Cohesive devices such as 'One major disadvantage', 'Another problem', 'However', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' are employed to guide the reader through the text effectively, though some transitions are somewhat formulaic. Referencing throughout the essay is clear, ensuring that the relationships between ideas remain transparent and easy to follow from sentence to sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, utilizing topic-specific terms like 'aging population', 'public services', 'healthcare systems', 'voluntary work', and 'working-age people'. There are also occasional attempts at less common lexical items, though control over collocation and style is sometimes standard rather than sophisticated, as seen in phrases like 'reduce the amount of tax money collected'. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, and communication is never impeded by lexical inadequacies, fitting the criteria for a solid band 6.5 or 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. Complex structures are integrated with reasonable success, such as 'Although an aging population can create some problems for governments, I believe that it also has several benefits for society' and 'Some elderly people look after their grandchildren, which allows parents to spend more time working.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong. While there is a reliance on straightforward complex structures rather than highly sophisticated syntactic variety, the frequency of errors is low and they do not impede communication at any point in the text.

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