Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-18

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 this contemporary era, science as a subject has become a topic of considerable debate. Students mostly prefer other subjects rather than science at university in different nations. This issue can be attributed to several underlying factors such as less interest and comprehensive, while it leads to shortage of scientists and researchers as a negative impact.

The primary cause of this trend is that lack of interest. This is mainly due to students found other subjects like business, IT, arts and media more attractive than science. Individuals believe that science involves too much theory and laboratory work. For instance, a survey studied that 65% students wants to study as per their interests, this percentage is increased as compared to past. As a result, children choose subject which they find enjoyable and easy. Another cause is that science is difficult to understand or study. In other words, subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology can be complicated, and students may struggle with complex structures or concepts, calculations and practical experiments.

This issue has the negative effects on the society. It has great impact on the number of scientists, it reduces, as fewer students study science at university, which may hinder scientific development. It also may impacts on the global problems. Generally, society needs scientists tackle issues such as climate changes, diseases, food shortages and energy problems, a shortage of science graduates could make it harder to develop effective solution over global problem.

In conclusion, while students has options for further study and it is also a right for them to choose any subject which they find interesting, lack of interest in science has negative effects as shortages of qualified scientists and researchers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: causes and effects. The ideas are relevant, such as the preference for other subjects and the impact on scientific development. However, the development is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'lack of interest' is repeated without significant expansion, and the examples provided, such as the survey mention, are vague. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific, detailed explanations for why science is perceived as 'difficult' or 'too theoretical' and elaborate on the long-term societal consequences beyond general statements. The position is clear, but the overall depth of analysis remains at a mid-level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. There is a discernible progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive (e.g., 'Another cause is that', 'It also may'). Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'It has great impact on the number of scientists, it reduces', where the connection between clauses is awkward. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer to their antecedents would enhance the flow and cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'contemporary era', 'underlying factors', and 'scientific development'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'a survey studied that' (should be 'a survey indicated that') and 'it also may impacts on' (incorrect verb form). Some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'less interest and comprehensive'. To improve, focus on using collocations more accurately and expanding your vocabulary to include more precise academic terminology related to education and societal trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('students found other subjects', 'students has options') and incorrect verb forms ('it also may impacts'). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are clunky due to these grammatical slips. To achieve a higher score, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that modal verbs are followed by the correct base form of the verb.

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

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