Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-04

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)

In the recent years, many countries have an experienced decline in the number if students opting to study science at university. This trend can be attributed to several factors, and it has significant implications for society.

There are two main reasons for this lact of interest in science. First, many students perceive science subjects as being overly difficult and demanding.Compared to degrees in business or arts, science courses require extensive laboratory work, complex mathematical concepts and long hours of study. As a results students who prefer less stressfull academic path tends to avoid these fileds. Additionally, In many countries, graduates in technology, finance, and marketing can earn more higher salaries as compared to science graduates. For example, In Pakistan, students are increasingly choosing IT and bussiness degrees because they lead to better-paid jobs in muti-national companies.

The effects of this trend on society are concerning. The most obvious impact is a shortage of qualified scientists and researchers, which can slow down innovation and technological progress. Without enough scientists, countries may struggle to address critical issues such as climates change, medical research and renewable energy sources. Furthermore, a decline in scientists expertise can make a nation dependent on other countries for technological advancements and science solutions.

To adress this issue, governments and educational institutions should take action. They could offer scholarships, improve science education in schools, and highlight successful science career to make field more appealing to young people.

In conclusion, the main causes of fewer students studying science are the percieved difficulty of the subjects and better opportunities in other fields.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the causes (perceived difficulty and salary prospects) and the effects (innovation lag and national dependency). The ideas are relevant and supported by a specific example from Pakistan, which strengthens the argument. The position is clear throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of the effects could be more nuanced; for instance, discussing the long-term economic impact on a nation's competitiveness beyond just technological dependency would provide more depth. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the causes from the effects. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are minor issues with mechanical flow, such as the slightly abrupt transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be linked more fluidly to improve the overall coherence of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some precision, such as 'technological advancements' and 'multinational companies'. There are some spelling errors ('lact', 'stressfull', 'fileds', 'adress', 'percieved') and minor collocation issues ('make field more appealing'). While the range is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly, the presence of these spelling errors and the reliance on somewhat standard vocabulary prevent a higher score. Expanding the range to include more sophisticated academic collocations would enhance the lexical profile of the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'In the recent years' (incorrect article usage), 'number if students' (preposition error), and 'As a results' (pluralization error). Additionally, subject-verb agreement issues appear, such as 'students... tends to avoid'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication or cause confusion for the reader. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures with greater accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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