Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
In numerous countries not many students choose to study science at university because of its complexity. Students find it harder to get admission in science due to the eligibility required which could also be the reason.
The potential reason for students opting out of science particularly in India because of the entrance exam which is extremely difficult to crack. Entrance exams like JEE and NEET require extensive preparation and will power to overcome. According to me it important for universities to use this a point of judgement, however it creates a lot of pressure on the students. Which could be the potential reason for students to not choose science at university. The positive effect of this is that only worthy students gets a chance to study the subject.
Another reason could be the stereotype that is associated with it. For example the parents in India comes from a belief that only science could get a person ahead in life. The youth with the mindset of countering the parents belief tend to not obey them and choose other streams instead of science at university. Parents need to understand the capability of ones own child and take decisions accordingly keeping the long lost belief that is carried by them all along. The negative effect of all this could be the lack of skilled professionals like doctors, engineers, teachers.
In conclusion, there are numerous social and ancient reasons associated with students tending to not study science in university. This could have numerous negative as well and positive effects on the society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: causes (complexity, entrance exams, parental pressure) and effects (selection of worthy students, shortage of professionals). However, the development is somewhat uneven. The discussion on entrance exams is specific to the Indian context, which is acceptable, but the analysis of the 'effects' is quite brief and could be expanded with more depth. The position is clear, but the argument lacks a broader global perspective, relying heavily on local examples. To reach a higher band, ensure that the consequences are explored with more nuance and that the link between the causes and the global trend is more explicitly stated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a central theme. There is a clear introduction and conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition between ideas within paragraphs could be smoother. Some sentences are fragmented, such as 'Which could be the potential reason for students to not choose science at university,' which disrupts the flow. While the progression of ideas is generally logical, the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the transition between the causes and the effects feel a bit abrupt at times.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at using topic-specific vocabulary like 'eligibility,' 'entrance exam,' and 'skilled professionals.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'long lost belief' and 'countering the parents belief.' The phrasing is occasionally informal or awkward, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Expanding the range of academic collocations and synonyms would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('parents in India comes,' 'only worthy students gets') and punctuation errors, such as starting sentences with 'Which' or 'And.' There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over more complex structures. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and sentence boundaries would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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