Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

It is universally acknowledge that the problem of major scholars do not like to learn science at university is escalating at an alarming rate in current scenario. This issue has become an depressing magnitude. Although a plethora of reasons are there yet some sensible solutions are also there to curb this grave menace.

To commence with causes which are responsible for the growth of it. First and foremost, most students find science as a difficult subject because there is plenty of chemical equations and lab work involved in it. Secondly, a number of students have interest in sports as well though if they choose science they might not focus on their game. To cite an example, a friend of mine like to play piano, she want to do a professional training regarding her practice but she has so many classes to attend in university and not getting time for their passion.

In order to solve this this issue, some measures can be taken. Teachers need to understand the students and give them proper knowledge regarding all subjects so that individuals know what they want to do. However, the society put so much pressure on childrens that they choose science not because they have interest in it but for the sake of their parents or the public. For instance, In the US, students choose any course on the basis of test as if they have interest in specific field, they should pass the test first rather than being pressurised by family or the community.

To recapitulate, unquestionably, this problem has become the burning question of the day. Therefore, it is not an easy task to solve this. Parents and childrens need to understand each other and take steps towards great learning according to their interest.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt's requirements by discussing causes and effects. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention causes like the difficulty of science and personal interests, the discussion on the 'effects on society' is largely missing or conflated with solutions. The prompt explicitly asks for the effects on society, which is a key requirement that was not fully developed. The ideas provided are relevant but lack depth and specific evidence to support the arguments. To improve, ensure that every part of the question is given a dedicated paragraph and that the consequences of the trend are clearly articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'To commence with causes which are responsible for the growth of it.' The transition between ideas is occasionally abrupt, and the logical progression within paragraphs could be smoother. Referencing is sometimes unclear, for example, 'this issue' is used repeatedly without sufficient contextual anchoring. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally from the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'major scholars' instead of 'students' and 'depressing magnitude' which does not fit the context. You rely on basic vocabulary and some collocations are unnatural. To improve, try to incorporate more academic vocabulary related to education and societal trends, and pay closer attention to word forms and collocations to ensure your writing sounds more natural and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You frequently make errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'she want to do', 'childrens' as a plural) and article usage. Some sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'Although a plethora of reasons are there yet some sensible solutions are also there'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly pluralisation and verb tense consistency, will significantly improve your score.

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

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