Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-05

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 6.0)

people are living longer because of better healthcare, nutrition and living standards. An aging population brings both benefits and challenges. in my opinion, the disadvantages are greater than the advantages.

on one hand, elder people have more experience than younger ones, which helped them in difficult situation, so they get better advice from their elder people. They can guide younger generation in several pathways of life. Grandparents can help look after children. They can also pass on traditions, values and culture.

Moreover, some healthy elderly people contribute working or running businesses. they can also contribute to society through volunteering. Also their presence can motivate the elderly people. many retired people have more free time, so they choose to volunteer in schools, community centers, and charities. This can strengthen communities and reduce pressure on public service.

on the other hand, there are some disadvantages of aging population. Firstly, older people generally need more medical care and Governments must spend more on hospitals, medicines and elderly-care facilities. Secondly, a larger retired population means higher pension expenditure. additionally, there was fewer working-age people may have to support more retires through taxes. Thirdly, if working-age population decreases, some industries may face a shortage of workers this can reduce economic growth. many retired people are avoid working even if they are capable to work. For example, counties with a rapidly growing elderly population may need to build more nursing homes and hire additional healthcare workers.

In conclusion, although an aging population offers benefits such as valuable experience, traditions and stronger family support, I believe, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. The increasing pressure on healthcare, pension systems and the workforce can create significant challenges for governments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout, suggesting that the disadvantages of an aging population outweigh the advantages. Relevant ideas are presented, such as the benefits of older people's experience and family support alongside the challenges of increased healthcare costs and pension expenditures. However, some ideas are more fully developed than others; for example, the points regarding family support and volunteering are somewhat generalized and lack extension. To reach a higher level, the response would need to develop all main ideas more thoroughly with specific explanations and extended reasoning, ensuring that every argument is fully explored rather than merely stated.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion, and the writing is divided into logical paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used to signal shifts between the advantages and disadvantages, such as 'on one hand' and 'on the other hand'. However, referencing and cohesion are at times mechanical or faulty, as seen in repetitive sentence starters like 'Secondly' and 'Thirdly', and occasional abrupt transitions between sentences without sufficient linking. To progress further, the text would require a more sophisticated and flexible use of cohesive devices, ensuring that the progression of ideas from sentence to sentence flows smoothly and naturally without relying on formulaic transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their ideas about healthcare, retirement, and family roles. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'pension expenditure' and 'volunteer in schools'. However, there are noticeable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice and word formation, such as 'elder people' instead of 'elderly people', 'contribute working' instead of 'contribute by working', and 'reties' instead of 'retirees'. Additionally, there are minor spelling slips like 'counties' instead of 'countries'. These lexical errors do not seriously impede communication, but they reflect a restricted range and prevent the response from achieving a higher mark.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating structures such as conditional and concessive clauses. There are some correct grammatical structures and verb forms, but the text contains a mixture of grammar errors in punctuation, capitalization, and clause structure. Examples include lowercase beginnings at the start of sentences ('people are living longer', 'on one hand'), missing articles ('a larger retired population', 'shortage of workers'), and awkward phrasing like 'there was fewer working-age people may have to support more retires'. These errors occur regularly alongside error-free sentences, but they occasionally require the reader to slow down. To reach a higher band, the writer needs to demonstrate greater control over complex sentence patterns and significantly reduce basic mechanical errors.

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

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