Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-03
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)
cost involved, interest, job opportunities, adequate sources.
In recent years, there has been significant decline in the number of enrolments for the science subject in universities. There are plenty of reasons for decreasing numbers, the main reasons could be tuition fee and competition in entrance exams. We will discuss most appropriate issues and impacts that would lead to other issues.
First and foremost reason, increasing tuition fee and miscellaneous expenses incurred particularly in science field. A student with average background can not afford admission at leading universities that can cause them a fortune. For instance, to take admission in American University, a student has to clear several tests such as IELTS or PTE which are costly and time consuming at the same time. In addition, entrance exams like NEET involves rigorous practice and coaching to get a valid rank to get into best institutions, which is again a stressful journey. Therefore, students prefer courses which helps them learn while enjoying some free time rather than doing hard training without desired outputs.
Furthermore, with lowest number of enrolments in science category, can have stressful impact on nations. Fields like science and technology require young minds with skills and talents to carry forward the researches. But decreasing proportions, could raise a new challenge for the nations to cope these issues. If learners keep giving up on technology studies, world may strave for talented scientists.
In conclusion, it is true that science field need young minds with talents and skills for best future but it need to
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—but the development is uneven. While the causes (tuition fees, entrance exam pressure) are clearly identified, the effects on society are underdeveloped and lack specific examples. The conclusion is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence, which prevents a clear summary of the position. The introduction is also slightly disjointed due to the inclusion of a list of points at the start. To improve, ensure each body paragraph provides a fully realized argument with a clear link to the prompt, and always ensure the essay reaches a logical conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost' and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the logical flow is hampered by the incomplete conclusion and the list of points at the beginning, which does not fit the structure of an academic essay. Paragraphing is present but the final paragraph is unfinished, which disrupts the overall coherence. Referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the causes and the societal impacts could be smoother. Improving the use of linking words to show contrast or consequence would help elevate the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Phrases like 'cause them a fortune' and 'strave for talented scientists' (likely a misspelling of 'starve') show some limitations in collocation and spelling. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'enrolments', 'tuition fee', and 'rigorous practice', the range is somewhat restricted. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated synonyms and ensuring accurate word formation and spelling throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'there has been significant decline' (missing article), 'science field need' (subject-verb agreement), and 'can have stressful impact' (missing article). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is sometimes awkward, such as 'with lowest number of enrolments... can have stressful impact'. Increasing the variety of complex structures while focusing on basic accuracy—particularly articles and subject-verb agreement—will significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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