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 some places around the world students have started diverting their attention away from studying science, specifically at university. This essay will address some reasons why this could be happening and what challenges the societies are facing due to this.

Many students are forced to study science as a subject in their primary and secondary education due to which their hatred for the subject gradually increases leading them to drop the subject as a whole when searching for a degree at university. Secondly, studying science is not always easy for everyone as some may have interest in business, economics, arts ,accounting, or commerce. Additionally, pursuing science also requires students to have a set qualification in mathematics in many places around the world which eventually filters out more students. Furthermore, a student studying science is usually considered gifted because it comes with extra pressure, stress, and anxiety which a normal business mindset student can not go through.

Unfortunately, our world revolves around science from eating the right food to providing electricity and water to our homes all requires an individual who has prior knowledge or a degree relating to science. The number of students who opt for any kind of science declining is alarming because this indicates that there will be less doctors, engineers, and programmers in the near future. Without them there will be fewer people qualified to save lives, build bridges, dams, power stations, and vehicles, all of which is essential for humanity to function.

In conclusion, students not choosing to pursue science is because of the academic stress it carries with it and it might not be a suitable carrier path for them. This trend has serious consequences, as a lack of qualified experts in this field will hold back global progress

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: causes (educational pressure, lack of interest, math requirements) and effects (shortage of essential professionals). The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. However, the development is somewhat uneven; the discussion on causes is more detailed than the effects, which could be expanded further to reach a higher band. The position is clear throughout, and the essay maintains a consistent focus on the topic. To improve, ensure that the consequences are explored with the same depth as the causes, perhaps by discussing the long-term economic or societal impact of a science-deficient workforce.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Secondly', 'Additionally', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, but there are instances where the flow could be more sophisticated. For example, the transition between the causes and the effects could be more seamless to better connect the two parts of the prompt. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use less common vocabulary, such as 'diverting their attention' and 'essential for humanity to function'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'set qualification' instead of 'prerequisite' and 'business mindset student' which is slightly informal. The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but more precise academic terminology would elevate the response. The spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'all requires an individual' (subject-verb agreement) and 'a student... can not go through' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally correct, though some sentences are slightly clunky. The range of structures is sufficient for the task, but more consistent control over complex grammatical forms is needed to reach a higher band. The errors present do not impede communication, but they are noticeable.

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

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