Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-23

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 7.0)

In many countries, an increasing number of students are choosing subjects other than science at university. This trend can be caused by several factors, including the difficulty of science subjects and the attraction of other fields. It can have serious effects on society, particularly on the availability of skilled workers and scientific progress.

One major reason why students avoid science is that these subjects are often considered difficult. Subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology require students to understand complex ideas and, in some cases, study mathematics as well. As a result, students who are more interested in subjects that require less technical knowledge may choose other fields. Another reason is that students may believe that other degrees offer better career opportunities. For example, many young people are attracted to business, technology and media because they believe these fields can provide well-paid jobs without requiring them to study difficult scientific subjects for several years.

A decline in the number of science graduates can have several negative effects on society. First, there may not be enough scientists, engineers and other specialists to meet the needs of important industries. This can slow down research and make it more difficult for countries to develop new medicines, technologies and energy solutions. For instance, if fewer students become qualified scientists, there may be fewer researchers working on treatments for serious diseases. Second, a shortage of science graduates can increase the dependence of countries on skilled workers from abroad. This may make it harder for governments to develop their own scientific and technological sectors.

In conclusion, students may be avoiding science at university because they find these subjects difficult and because other fields may appear to offer more attractive career opportunities. If this trend continues, society could face a shortage of skilled scientific workers and slower progress in areas such as medicine and technology.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: the causes (difficulty of subjects and career perceptions) and the effects (shortage of specialists and reliance on foreign labor). The position is clear from the introduction and is maintained throughout. Ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of medicine and technology. The structure is logical, and the content is consistently focused on the prompt. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more nuanced analysis, perhaps exploring the societal impact beyond just the economic or industrial aspects, such as the loss of scientific literacy in the general population.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the causes and effects is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'One major reason', 'Another reason', 'First', and 'Second' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural. The response demonstrates a high level of coherence, though the range of cohesive devices could be slightly more varied to achieve a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terminology such as 'scientific progress', 'specialists', 'technological sectors', and 'qualified scientists'. While the vocabulary is accurate and conveys meaning clearly, it is somewhat functional rather than sophisticated. There is a lack of less common lexical items or idiomatic collocations that would demonstrate a wider, more flexible range. However, there are no significant errors in word choice or spelling, and the language used is natural and precise enough for the context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'If this trend continues, society could face a shortage...', which shows an ability to use conditional structures correctly. Punctuation is accurate, and the majority of sentences are error-free. While the grammar is solid, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited; the essay relies heavily on standard sentence patterns. To improve, the student could incorporate more varied sentence beginnings and more sophisticated grammatical forms, such as passive voice or inversion, to enhance the overall flow.

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

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