Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-12

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)

Globally there is a shortage of students opting to learn science at university. I believe it is due to the time and effort they have to put for studies. It can be a huge effect to the society because of having less scientists and medical team.

In modern society many young people show less interest to study science because they have to focus more on studies and also the salaries will be less than competitive job roles. When studying subjects like science learners have to spend more time and put more effort to complete the studies properly. However, after completing the studies they will not get paid well like other sectors. For instance, Lawyers can earn much more than scientist. There for, many students decide to learn law rather than science.

This can cause huge scene in the society due to the lack of scientist and medical team. when students are not choosing to study science there will be a shortage of scientists and also medical team. It will affect badly to the society. If there is any virus like corona again staff will be short to conduct research and find the anti-virus and also to treat the patients. Moreover, not only the medical sector it will become and global issue because medical sector is related to all the aspects in the world. T

In conclusion, the students less interest in science subjects has become a global issue. Therefor authorities should take actions and go deep to recover the situation to have enough doctors and scientists to society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the causes (time/effort required and lower salary expectations) and the effects (shortage of medical professionals and research capabilities). However, the development is somewhat superficial. While you mention that science requires more effort, you could have expanded on why this is perceived as a deterrent compared to other fields. The example of lawyers is relevant but brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are fully extended with more specific explanations or examples. The position is clear throughout, but the depth of analysis is limited, keeping the response at a mid-level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'For instance', and 'Moreover' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly repetitive. There are also instances where the flow between sentences is a bit abrupt, such as the transition into the discussion about the medical sector. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be smoother with more varied linking words and better integration of supporting points within the paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'medical sector', 'research', and 'global issue'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'huge scene in the society' and 'go deep to recover the situation'. These choices are not always precise or natural. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and avoiding informal or vague expressions. The spelling is generally accurate, but the word choice lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you can communicate your ideas, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'the students less interest' (possessive error), 'it will affect badly to the society' (incorrect verb-adverb usage), and 'there will be a shortage of scientists and also medical team' (missing articles). These errors do not usually impede communication, but they are noticeable. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, article usage, and the correct placement of adverbs. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy will help raise your score.

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

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