Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-14
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 5.0)
In many countries not enough students are choosing to study science at university. I will discuss the causes and effects of this essay topic which I will elaborate on upcoming paragraphs before reaching a concrete conclusion.
To commence with, one of the major cause that not choosing science stream in further study is students find it difficult to understand. To clear it precisely, they thought that arts and commerce subject is easier to understand as compared to science. The another reason for not choosing science is they could not find excellent universities for studying science. For instance, they thought that laboratory hours and complex mathematical framework required, streering them instead towards humanities and social science which are perceived as more accessible. Hence, fields such as business, marketing and finance frequently offer more opportunities.
Moving on further, it will affect society in a numerous way such as doctor, engineer and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, doctor plays a vital role in shaping society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 159 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the essay attempts to address both the causes (perceived difficulty, lack of university options) and effects (impact on society), the discussion is extremely underdeveloped. The effects section is particularly weak, consisting of a fragmented list rather than a coherent argument. Because the response is substantially under-length and the ideas are not fully extended or supported as required for a higher band, it falls into the lower range of the criteria.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'To commence with' and 'Moving on further' to structure the paragraphs. However, the progression of ideas is disjointed. The transition between the causes and the effects is abrupt, and the final paragraph is incomplete, lacking a concluding sentence or a summary of the main points. Paragraphing is present but the content within the paragraphs lacks logical flow, making the overall structure feel mechanical and underdeveloped.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'one of the major cause' (should be 'causes') and 'science stream' (which is slightly informal). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to discuss the topic with any depth or precision. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and the presence of basic errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies on simple sentence structures with frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'they thought that arts and commerce subject is easier' (subject-verb agreement and pluralization issues) and 'doctor plays a vital role' (should be plural 'doctors'). There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the errors in basic grammar, such as article usage and pluralization, are frequent enough to be noticeable, though they do not completely impede communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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