Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-25

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)

Aged people are the pressing issue of a present time all over the world because they play a pivotal role in their families related to all aspects of life. Some people argue that aged people have disastrous effects on govermnets. Meanwhile, other believe that they are beneficial for society. I strongly believe that the advantages of having an aging population outweigh the disadvantages.

First of all, aging population creates hurdles and obstacles for governments due to their rapid age and also they suffer in several kinds of diseases. It is widely acknowledged that in almost all the countries children leave their parents alone in their old age. So, these elderly people went to orphan or old age homes, constructed by the government. It give rise to several problems for governments. For instance, significantly rise in numbers of aged people effects the economy and financial budget.

Secondly, aging population are beneficial for society in certain aspects. There are alot of reasons behind it ut the most highlighted one is that they had alot of experiences about how to survive in difficult times and how to tackle the burning issues. For example, in flood and scarcity of food and water, they know how to manage the situation. Furthermore, they had a vast amount of information about history.For example, most of our ancestors faced many conflicts. So, they had information about what weapons were used in wars and how residents of country served their cruical lives for their country.

In conclusion, having an old people in society have many advantages. After experiences their capabilities,they encouraged young generation that what profession they should adopt. They also helped for the prevention of diseases by their home made medicines from herbs and shurbs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You state a clear overall view in the introduction: “the advantages … outweigh the disadvantages,” and you include both a disadvantage and several possible benefits. However, the response only partially develops the comparison required by the question. The government-cost point is relevant, but the explanation that older people go to care homes does not clearly show how this creates the stated economic pressure. The benefits—experience in crises, historical knowledge, and herbal remedies—are listed but not convincingly connected to wider social advantages or weighed against the costs. The conclusion introduces guidance for young people, but this idea is not developed in the body. To strengthen the response, explain and support fewer points in more depth, and make the comparison behind your position explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs signalled by “First of all” and “Secondly,” and a conclusion. This helps the reader identify the main sections, and examples are introduced with “For instance” and “For example.” However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. The first body paragraph moves from illness to care homes and then to the budget without fully explaining the links. In the second, historical knowledge and wartime weapons do not clearly build on the point about older people’s experience. Some linking phrases feel mechanical, and the conclusion adds a new claim rather than drawing together the main comparison. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example directly to its paragraph’s central idea.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “pivotal role,” “hurdles and obstacles,” “financial budget,” and “burning issues.” These choices show an effort to express ideas beyond basic vocabulary. However, several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, which makes some points harder to understand: “rapid age,” “orphan … homes,” and “cruical lives” do not convey the intended meanings clearly. Spelling errors such as “govermnets,” “alot,” and “shurbs” also reduce accuracy. Some phrases are repetitive or imprecise, particularly repeated references to “a lot of” experience and information. Aim for precise, natural collocations and check spelling; for example, describe the public cost of care rather than using the vague phrase “effects the economy.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple sentences and attempts at longer structures, such as “Some people argue … Meanwhile, other believe …” and the sentence beginning “For instance.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make several sentences difficult to follow. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent: “aging population creates” and “aging population are beneficial”; verb forms are also faulty in “these elderly people went” and “they had a vast amount.” Articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries need attention, as in “having an old people” and “history.For example.” Practise building accurate complex sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check agreement, tense consistency, articles, and punctuation before submitting.

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