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IELTS Task 2 advantages and disadvantages essay: Having a first child later

A Task 2 advantages and disadvantages question. Weigh both sides, then answer the question as it is asked: whether one side outweighs the other, or whether the development is positive or negative.

2 students’ essays below, each marked by Axiom, from band 7.0 to 7.5. Updated on 22 September 2026.

The question

In many countries today, people are having their first child when they are older.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Students’ essays on this question, marked by Axiom

Across these 2 essays the average band is 7.3: Task Response 8.0, Coherence and Cohesion 7.0, Lexical Resource 7.5, Grammatical Range and Accuracy 7.0. Coherence and Cohesion and Grammatical Range and Accuracy were the weakest criteria.

Real answers, shared without their writers’ names, newest first. Each opens with its revisions marked in place. Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

  • Overall band, an AI estimate: 7.0

    Essay #2

    Task response 8.0, coherence 7.0, vocabulary 7.0, grammar 7.0

    In a large number of countries, having a first child later in life has become increasingly common. Although this can lead to several drawbacks, such as having a…

    Task 2, 415 words, 22 September 2026

  • Overall band, an AI estimate: 7.5

    Essay #1

    Task response 8.0, coherence 7.0, vocabulary 8.0, grammar 7.0

    There has been a tendency in many countries to have children at an older age. While health-related risks and reduced time together are among the disadvanatages, I believe…

    Task 2, 680 words, 18 September 2026

Questions on the same theme, then questions of the same type, each with students’ essays marked by Axiom.

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