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 career 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 essay addresses both parts of the prompt: the causes of the decline in science students and the effects on society. The ideas are relevant, such as the pressure of the curriculum and the necessity of science for infrastructure. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For example, the point about 'hatred for the subject' is mentioned but not fully explored in terms of how it manifests. The conclusion is a bit repetitive, merely summarizing the points rather than synthesizing them. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis of the societal consequences, such as the economic impact of a skills gap.

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 'Secondly', 'Additionally', and 'Furthermore' are used to guide the reader, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the link between the 'business mindset' and the 'gifted' label in the second paragraph is a bit disjointed. Overall, the structure is sound and supports the flow of the argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'diverting their attention', 'infrastructure', and 'qualified experts'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'set qualification' (instead of 'prerequisite') and 'business mindset student' (which is slightly awkward). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, 'all requires an individual' should be 'all require individuals', and 'the number of students who opt for any kind of science declining' is missing a verb ('is declining'). There are also some punctuation issues, such as the comma splice in the second paragraph. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring every clause has a clear main verb.

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

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