Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries not enough students are choosing to study science at university. What are the causes of this? What effects does it have on society?

Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Unlike in the past, students had limited opportunities to study at university due to lack of money and guidance. At present, time has changed and all the students can be study at university with specialization course. However, in numerous countries least students are opting for science subject at university.

As we know every student has their personal interest in educational subject. Some students, who are attracts to technologies, innovation, digitalization and many new technical trends have personal interest to study science at university, whereas fewer students are interested in arts, banking and literature. As a result, students have stop applying for science at university and opting for their favourite subjects.

From my perspective, every country required the talented young students who developed and contribute new innovation in field of science and technology. If in any country less students are opting to study science subject at university, they cannot give major contribution to future technology. Subsequently, that country cannot be competed to other neighbour country and their citizen might migrate to developed nation. For example, the maximum region of south Africa suffers from the lack of digitalization, innovation and technology. The main reason behind this situation is significant number of people are not well educated, and they do not have any knowledge related to science studies. In addition to that, they will fall in educationally backward classes category and countries economy will suffer.

In the conclusion, the government have to take initiative to bring the awareness in students by organizing of campaign or expert talk related to science topic in school. Hence, selection to study science subject will be increased.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both causes and effects, and your position is generally understandable: you suggest that students’ personal interests influence their choices, then explain that fewer science graduates may limit technological development. However, the causes are only briefly explored. The contrast with students choosing “arts, banking and literature” does not explain clearly why science attracts fewer students, such as perceived difficulty, cost, or career prospects. The effects are more developed, but claims about countries losing competitiveness and citizens migrating are broad, and the South Africa example does not clearly establish the link to low university science enrolment. Develop each cause and effect with a clearer explanation and a directly relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The second body paragraph moves from a possible societal effect to an example, and phrases such as “As a result” and “In addition to that” help signal relationships. However, progression is not always clear. The first body paragraph shifts from students’ interests to the claim that they have stopped applying for science, without explaining the connection. The South Africa example also introduces education and digitalisation issues without clearly linking them to the main argument. Some transitions, including “As we know” and “Subsequently,” feel formulaic or do not make the logic precise. Organise the causes and effects more distinctly, and use linking phrases only where they clarify the relationship between ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “innovation,” “digitalization,” “technology,” and “contribution,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at less common expressions such as “educationally backward classes.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unclear, including “least students,” “personal interest in educational subject,” “major contribution,” and “competed to other neighbour country.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Repetition of “science subject,” “students,” and “country” also limits the range. Aim for more natural academic collocations and precise terms, such as “fewer students,” “study science,” “make a significant contribution,” and “compete with neighbouring countries.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a contrast with “whereas” and conditional structures such as “If in any country less students are opting…”. This shows some range, but control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make sentences difficult to understand. Examples include “all the students can be study,” “students, who are attracts,” “students have stop applying,” and “the government have to take initiative.” These contain problems with verb forms, agreement, and articles. The conditional sentence also lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “they cannot give major contribution” has an article error. Practise forming accurate clauses with subject–verb agreement and correct verb patterns, then check each sentence for articles and tense consistency.

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