Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-16

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)

It is becoming increasingly common for people to live longer lives than previous generations. Some individuals believe that an aging population creates issues for governments, while others argue that there are advantages to having older people in society. Although this trend has certain disadvantages, I believe that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages because elderly people can share their life experiences with the younger generation.

The most significant advantage of this trend is that older people are more experienced in various aspects of life, so they can guide youngsters properly. They can also play a significant role in character building of the younger generation, which allows them to serve society effectively. For example, in families elderly people can spend quality time with children, which helps them learn about their culture and tradition. Another major advantage is that older individuals are more familiar with their work, so they can guide new employees appropriately. This is particularly because many older workers are well-informed about their company environment. As a result, an older generation is essential in a society to keep the culture alive and guide the younger generation.

Despite these benefits, an aging population also has some notable drawbacks. The main disadvantage is that they may not leave their jobs, which will discourage the younger generation. Young people think differently than older people and have some innovative ideas , which are important to make progress in any field. Moreover, the government should build more care homes for older individuals, that is very costly. Consequently, more older people can cause a burden on governments, which may lead to a poor economy.

In conclusion, although the older population has some drawbacks, I believe that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages. The main reasons are that they can help young people learn about their cultural values and guide them in their professional lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both sides of the question and state a clear position: the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The discussion of older people passing on cultural knowledge and guiding younger workers is relevant, and the example of grandparents spending time with children helps illustrate one benefit. You also identify two disadvantages: older workers may limit opportunities for younger people, and care provision can be costly. However, these points are not developed equally. The claim that older people may not leave their jobs is asserted without explaining how widespread or significant this effect is, while the economic consequence of care costs is also stated rather than demonstrated. To strengthen the response, explain the scale or conditions of these effects and weigh them more explicitly against the benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, with an introduction, separate discussion of advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion that restates your position. Ideas generally progress logically, and linking expressions such as “For example,” “Despite these benefits,” and “Consequently” help readers follow the argument. The conclusion also reflects the main points raised earlier. Some connections between claims could be made more precise: for instance, the move from older workers’ familiarity with their company to the claim that an older generation is essential is quite broad. The disadvantage paragraph also presents two points without fully showing how they relate to the overall comparison. Develop clearer links between each reason, its consequence, and your judgement about its importance.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic-related vocabulary, including “aging population,” “character building,” “innovative ideas,” and “burden on governments.” These choices make the main argument clear, and you attempt some less common expressions. However, several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “more familiar with their work,” “company environment,” and “keep the culture alive.” “Older people” and “younger generation” are also repeated frequently, limiting flexibility. Aim for more precise collocations and vary references where appropriate—for example, “experienced employees” or “younger colleagues.” Check word forms and phrasing as well: “character building of the younger generation” would sound more natural as “the character development of younger people.” These refinements would make the vocabulary more accurate and flexible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses with “although,” “which,” and “because.” Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and the overall argument remains easy to follow. Some grammatical and punctuation errors persist. In “care homes for older individuals, that is very costly,” the comma incorrectly joins two clauses; use a full stop or a relative clause. “Young people think differently than older people and have some innovative ideas, which are important” has an unclear reference for “which,” so recast the sentence to make the relationship explicit. There are also inconsistent spaces before punctuation and some awkward article or preposition patterns. Continue using complex structures, but check clause boundaries and ensure pronouns clearly refer to the intended idea.

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