Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-07-28

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 9.0)

In recent years, a growing number of universities worldwide have reported a decline in enrollment for tertiary science courses. This trend stems primarily from the perceived difficulty of the subject and unappealing career prospects in research. Ultimately, this shift severely threatens societal progress by stalling technological innovation and creating critical labor shortages in vital industries.

The primary driver behind the dwindling interest in science is the daunting nature of the curriculum. Fields such as physics and chemistry require a high level of mathematical proficiency, which many students find intimidating. When combined with dry, overly theoretical teaching methods in secondary schools, young learners often lose interest before reaching university. Furthermore, the financial rewards of a pure science career rarely match the effort required. For instance, a student pursuing a biochemistry degree faces years of expensive postgraduate study, yet starting salaries in academic research remain significantly lower than those in finance or software engineering. Consequently, pragmatic students pivot toward fields with faster financial returns.

This relocation of talent has profound, negative repercussions for wider society. First and foremost, a scarcity of scientific minds severely hinders technological and medical advancement. Society relies heavily on scientists to pioneer green energy alternatives and develop life-saving pharmaceuticals. For example, during global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of virologists could catastrophically delay vaccine development. On an economic level, industries stagnate without scientific innovation, forcing nations to depend on foreign expertise. This lack of domestic talent ultimately compromises a country’s global competitiveness and self-sufficiency.

In conclusion, the migration of students away from science disciplines is fueled by the rigorous demands of the coursework and a lack of lucrative career paths. If left unaddressed, this trend will inevitably lead to economic stagnation and a dangerous decline in societal innovation. To counteract this, governments must urgently subsidize science education and elevate the professional status of researchers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: the causes (curriculum difficulty and financial disincentives) and the effects (stagnation of innovation and economic reliance). The position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of biochemistry degrees and the COVID-19 pandemic, which provide concrete support for the arguments. The response is balanced and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the topic, meeting all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the causes and the effects is seamless. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'Furthermore,' 'Consequently,' and 'First and foremost,' which help guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, and the overall structure is cohesive and easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

The vocabulary is precise, sophisticated, and well-suited to an academic context. The student uses a wide range of topic-specific terminology, such as 'tertiary science courses,' 'dwindling interest,' 'pragmatic,' 'repercussions,' and 'global competitiveness.' The collocations are natural and accurate, demonstrating a high level of lexical control. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the language used is both fluent and flexible, contributing significantly to the clarity and impact of the arguments presented.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including conditional sentences, participial phrases, and varied sentence lengths. The control over grammar and punctuation is excellent, with virtually no errors present. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the few complex structures used are handled with high accuracy. The flow of the writing is natural, and the grammatical precision ensures that the reader's attention remains entirely on the content of the argument rather than the mechanics of the language.

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