Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In many countries, fewer students are choosing to study science subjects at university. This can mainly be attributed to a change in the skills and professions that are considered valuable in the modern labour market. If this trend continues, it may result in a shortage of scientifically trained professionals and negatively affect research and development.

In the past, science-related professions were considered among the most prestigious and secure career options. As a result, students who wanted stable and well-respected careers were often encouraged to study science. However, there has been a considerable shift in the type of skills that are valued by employers. With the growth of different industries, there is now greater demand for people with skills in areas such as management, marketing and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. These professions can also provide attractive career opportunities and high salaries. Consequently, students today have a much wider range of options and may no longer consider studying traditional science subjects to be the most suitable path towards a successful career.

A continued decline in the number of science students could, however, have negative consequences for society. If fewer people receive scientific training, there may eventually be a shortage of qualified professionals in areas that depend heavily on such expertise. Scientific knowledge is essential in fields ranging from medicine and pharmaceuticals to agriculture, and a lack of skilled researchers could limit progress in these areas. For instance, if fewer individuals pursue scientific research, there may be insufficient professionals available to develop new medicines or find solutions to emerging diseases. Therefore, while the availability of more diverse career opportunities benefits students, a significant decline in science graduates could affect society's capacity for scientific development.

In conclusion, fewer students are choosing science because the modern labour market offers a wider range of attractive career opportunities. However, if this trend continues, it could reduce the availability of scientific expertise and slow progress in areas that are important to society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: the causes (shift in career prestige and market demand) and the effects (shortage of expertise and impact on research). The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout. Ideas are well-developed, particularly the explanation of how the modern labour market influences student choices. The supporting examples, such as the mention of medicine and pharmaceuticals, are relevant and effectively illustrate the potential societal consequences. The essay is balanced, providing a logical flow from the reasons for the decline to the subsequent implications for society, meeting all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the causes and the effects is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Consequently', 'However', and 'For instance' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. The referencing is precise, and the flow of information is natural, making the text easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic essay. The student demonstrates a good range of topic-specific terminology, such as 'labour market', 'emerging technologies', 'pharmaceuticals', and 'scientific expertise'. The use of collocations like 'stable and well-respected careers' and 'capacity for scientific development' is natural. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it stays within a standard academic range. To reach a higher band, the student could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic academic expressions to add further nuance to the arguments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical control. A variety of complex structures are used, including conditional sentences ('If this trend continues...') and subordinate clauses ('While the availability of more diverse career opportunities benefits students...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over tense and aspect is consistent, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a solid command of English grammar suitable for an academic context.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.