Problems and solutions for ageing populations

Question

In the fictional country of Veridia the proportion of people aged 65 and over has risen rapidly in recent decades, putting pressure on health services, pensions and local communities. What problems does this trend cause and what solutions can be proposed?

Write at least 250 words. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Model essay (estimated band 7.0 · 259 words)

Veridia’s rapidly ageing population presents a range of social and economic challenges. This essay outlines the main problems caused by this shift and suggests realistic measures that governments and communities can take to reduce the negative effects.

Firstly, the most immediate problem is the rising cost of healthcare and pensions. As people live longer, demand for chronic disease management and long-term care increases, forcing governments to reallocate funds or raise taxes. Secondly, there is a growing shortage in the labour force, especially in skilled trades and public services, which can slow economic growth. Moreover, an ageing population can increase intergenerational tension: younger people may resent higher taxes or perceive reduced opportunities when resources are diverted to support older citizens.

To address these problems I suggest a combination of policy changes and local initiatives. If governments raise the retirement age gradually and invest in retraining programmes, older people can remains productive for longer. In addition, targeted immigration policies could help fill immediate labour shortages while long-term strategies—such as automation and flexible working—boost productivity.

Local measures are also important. Community-based services, such as day centres and volunteer networks, can reduce isolation among older citizens and delay the need for expensive residential care. Investment in preventive healthcare—health education, screening and early intervention—will lower long-term medical costs by reducing the incidence of chronic illness.

In conclusion, Veridia’s ageing population will create significant financial and social pressures, but a mix of national reforms (retirement policy, immigration and retraining) and community-level support (preventive healthcare and social services) can mitigate these difficulties and help society adapt.

Band commentary

Task Response: The essay addresses both parts of the task by identifying problems and proposing solutions. It states the issues clearly: "the rising cost of healthcare and pensions" and "a growing shortage in the labour force," and offers concrete proposals: "raise the retirement age gradually and invest in retraining programmes," and "targeted immigration policies." The conclusion summarises these points effectively. A stronger development of one or two solutions with specific implementation details would improve completeness.
Coherence & Cohesion: The response is logically organised with clear progression: topic sentences like "Firstly, the most immediate problem..." and "To address these problems I suggest..." guide the reader. Paragraphing separates problems and solutions, and cohesive devices such as "Secondly," "Moreover," and "In addition" are used appropriately. However, some linking could be smoother between sentences in the second solution paragraph to create tighter cohesion across ideas.
Lexical Resource: Vocabulary is appropriate and varied for the topic: phrases such as "intergenerational tension," "long-term care," "retraining programmes," and "preventive healthcare" show precise use of terms. Word choice is natural: "community-based services" and "targeted immigration policies" are well chosen. Occasional repetition of common words (e.g. "problems") could be reduced with synonyms for greater range.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a range of complex sentence structures, for example: "While immigration can help fill labour gaps in the short term, it must be managed carefully to maintain social cohesion." Most sentences are accurate, but there is at least one grammatical error: "older people can remains productive for longer" (subject–verb agreement). A few minor punctuation choices could be improved, but overall grammatical control is good.

Estimated band scores for practice only. Not affiliated with or endorsed by IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge.