Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-11

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 5.5)

There is an ongoing debate relating to the advantages and disadvantages of having elderly people in society. There are different perspectives of people, as some of them thinks that its benfecial while other thinks that having them is a problem for both the society and the government. I believe that there are both of them in our society. So, lets dicuss this.

Firstly, the advantages of having elderly people in our society. There are many advantages as by having them we can also have the most experienced persons in different fields so this may help the government and the society as well in differnet ways like if the person is a scientist so he can help others in solving different problems and give numerious ideas on different topics which could not be understand by young generation due to lack of experience. Then the other example may be the surgeons as they may help others in performing the most omplex and difficult surgeries. And the last they can contribute in training young generation through their experience.

Secondly, the disadvantages of having the majority of senior citizens in our community. The first is that by age they may face different or multiple diseases so the government may had a burden on them to fund for their medical expenses and treatments. And also they have to pay them the incentives because they are jobless at that time and also unable to work anymore. There may be several other disadvantages other than these.

In conclusion, the advanatge of them may outweigh the disadvantages in some ways but not always because there may be many other issue we may missed here to discuss. But if we keep in mind of only these advantages and disadvantages then for sure the government and communities only have the benefits of having them with us and it outweighs the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both sides of the question and give a position: elderly people can contribute experience, while healthcare and financial support may burden governments. The examples of experienced scientists, surgeons and training younger people are relevant. However, the response does not consistently answer the key question of how far the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The conclusion first says the advantages outweigh the disadvantages “in some ways but not always,” then gives a more definite judgement based only on the points discussed. This makes your position difficult to follow. Several ideas also need fuller explanation—for example, how older people’s expertise benefits society today, and how the costs of care compare with those benefits. State your judgement clearly and support it with more specific reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “In conclusion” help readers identify the stages of your argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes list-like: the advantages move from scientists to surgeons to training without explaining how these examples connect or which is most significant. Phrases such as “There may be several other disadvantages other than these” do not develop the discussion, and the conclusion repeats the main points rather than resolving the comparison. Some references are also unclear, particularly “both of them in our society.” Use clearer links between claims and explanations, and make each paragraph build toward your overall judgement.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “experienced persons,” “medical expenses,” “treatments,” and “senior citizens,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the reader pause. Examples include “a burden on them to fund,” “pay them the incentives,” and “the most omplex and difficult surgeries.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “benfecial,” “differnet,” “numerious,” and “advanatge.” Aim for precise collocations and check spelling carefully. Replacing repeated general terms such as “advantages” and “disadvantages” with context-appropriate alternatives can also make the discussion more fluent and specific.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “as,” “so,” and “because,” and the overall meaning can usually be understood. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and sentence construction occur frequently. For example, “some of them thinks” should use a plural verb, while “the government may had a burden” has an incorrect verb form and unclear construction. In “the person is a scientist so he can help,” punctuation or a linking word is needed between the clauses. The opening also contains the incomplete construction “There are different perspectives of people, as…”. Practise building accurate sentences first, then add subordinate clauses and check subject–verb agreement and verb forms.

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