Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-27
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 new era, numerous countries are facing the same problem that not many pupils are pursuing science-related subjects at universities. There are many reasons of this new trend and some serious long-term issues.
On the one hand, students are not choosing scientific courses because of various reasons such as lower salaries and lack of visible impact. They are drifting towards arts subjects because these courses promise more annual packages. Furthermore, arts-based subjects are heavily discussed among students and have more visible impacts, whereas scientific degrees require heavy mathematics and physics knowledge which students sometimes fail to match. For example, a prominent digital media house published a complete survey which showed that pupils do not want to enroll in science subjects because of vast science knowledge requirements.
On the other hand, science-related subjects are immensely important because without them it is extremely hard to discover and invent. Not only inventions but it also creates unemployment in technical fields which can ultimately cause many complications in the long run and can generate a gap in new scientific advancements. For instance, if a science institution lacks technical experts and scientists, they might slow down in new advancements which can impact not only countries but on humanity itself because science has been the partner of humans.
In conclusion, after briefly and thoroughly analyzing its drawbacks and causes as well as new generation attitudes. I firmly believe that this continued trend of students ignoring science-based courses will have an enormous effect on people's lives and society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: causes and effects. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation regarding 'lower salaries' and 'lack of visible impact' is a good starting point but lacks specific, concrete examples to fully support the argument. The mention of a 'prominent digital media house' is vague and does not provide a clear, illustrative example. While the position is clear, the analysis of the effects on society remains somewhat repetitive and could be expanded with more depth regarding specific sectors like healthcare or engineering to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate causes from effects. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the sentence 'Not only inventions but it also creates unemployment...' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the logical progression of the argument. Overall, the information is arranged coherently, but the use of cohesive devices lacks the flexibility required for a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'pursuing', 'drifting', and 'complications'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'annual packages' (usually 'higher salaries' or 'remuneration') and 'vast science knowledge requirements'. The phrase 'science has been the partner of humans' is also slightly unnatural. While the range is sufficient to convey meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication needed for a band 7 or higher.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'There are many reasons of this new trend' should be 'reasons for'. The sentence 'Not only inventions but it also creates...' is structurally flawed. Additionally, there is a sentence fragment in the conclusion: 'In conclusion, after briefly and thoroughly analyzing its drawbacks and causes as well as new generation attitudes. I firmly believe...'. These errors, while not impeding overall communication, occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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