Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-11

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 recent years, less students are choosing to study science at university in many countries because of laziness and poor education systems. Examining these causes and their effects provides a clearer understanding of the matter.

Currently parents are raising a lezzy generation. This is because the focus too much on their work or sources of income and give a little attention to their children. To explain this, a parent can spent more than 10 hours working for around six days a week and sometimes can go for days without seeing the child. This means that the caregiver is left with the child for more days. In addition to that, there are a lot of toys recently. Most children will spent most of their time playing with toys and watching the televisions making them lezzy. When these children go to school, they end up choosing easy subjects because they are used to a simple life.

Another cause of this is a poor education system. In Kenya for example, most students are used to exam irregularities. This makes them to score good grades in secondary schools but will not be able to study science subjects at university because the grades they scored were not genuine.

Having less number of students choosing science at university will reduce the number of people working in major sectors of the country such as the medical field and the technological advancement which will eventually reduce the productivity of the country.

To conclude, poor education system and raising a lezzy generation can reduce the number of students choosing science subjects at university which can eventually reduce the productivity of the country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt (causes and effects). However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and relies on generalizations. For instance, attributing the lack of interest in science to 'laziness' and 'toys' is a simplistic argument that lacks academic depth. The effect on society is mentioned but could be expanded with more specific examples beyond just mentioning the medical and technological sectors. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack the nuance expected at higher bands. To improve, focus on more sophisticated socio-economic factors rather than personal character traits like laziness.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. There is a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, 'In addition to that' and 'To explain this' are used as standard transitions, but the flow between sentences within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one would enhance the coherence of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The word 'lezzy' (likely a misspelling of 'lazy') is used multiple times, which is informal and inappropriate for an academic task. Other word choices, such as 'a lot of toys' or 'simple life', are basic and lack the precision required for a higher band score. There are also spelling errors (e.g., 'lezzy', 'televisions' used in a way that sounds unnatural). To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use a wider range of academic vocabulary and collocations, such as 'academic apathy', 'technological innovation', or 'socio-economic pressures'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'less students' (should be 'fewer students'), 'the focus too much' (missing subject), 'makes them to score' (incorrect verb pattern), and 'Having less number of students' (awkward phrasing). While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors in subject-verb agreement and sentence construction prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy and proofreading for common errors would significantly improve the quality of your writing.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.