Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-04

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 5.0)

It has been widely recognized that the issue of the declining number of students choosing to study science at university has become increasingly prevalent in many countries. This trend has raised serious concerns because it can have far-reaching implications for individuals, society and the economy. There are several underlying causes of this phenomenon, and it can also have a number of significant effects, which will be discussed in this essay.

To begin with, one of the primary reasons for the declining number of students choosing to study science at university lack of awareness and understanding.

Turning to the effects, [TOPIC / PROBLEM] can have several far-reaching consequences for society. One of the most significant effects is [EFFECT 1]. This can lead to [EXPLANATION / RESULT]. For example, [RELEVANT EXAMPLE]. Furthermore, [EFFECT 2] can also occur, particularly when [EXPLANATION]. Consequently, [WIDER SOCIAL / ECONOMIC EFFECT]. If this trend continues, it could have a considerable impact on [SOCIETY / ECONOMY / ENVIRONMENT].

To conclude, solving a global issue is not easy, but with the joint efforts of individuals, governments and society, the problem can be controlled through the aforementioned measures. Everyone should come forward and play their role in mitigating this problem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop ideas. Furthermore, the essay contains placeholders such as '[TOPIC / PROBLEM]', '[EFFECT 1]', and '[EXPLANATION / RESULT]', indicating that the response is incomplete and lacks actual content. While the introduction sets up a structure, the body paragraphs are essentially empty templates rather than a developed argument. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, and the ideas are not developed or supported as required by the prompt. To improve, you must provide specific, original content rather than using structural placeholders.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay uses some standard cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Turning to', and 'To conclude', which provide a basic framework. However, because the body paragraphs are incomplete templates, there is no logical progression of ideas or meaningful paragraph structure. The referencing is mechanical, and the lack of substantive content makes it impossible to evaluate the flow of arguments. To achieve a higher score, you need to write full, coherent paragraphs that link specific causes to their respective effects using a variety of linking words and logical transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used in the introduction and conclusion is appropriate and demonstrates a reasonable level of academic tone, such as 'widely recognized', 'increasingly prevalent', and 'mitigating'. However, the reliance on placeholders in the body paragraphs means that the range of vocabulary is extremely limited and insufficient for the task. There is no opportunity to demonstrate the use of less common lexical items or precise collocations because the content is missing. You should focus on expanding your vocabulary related to education, science, and societal impacts to better address the prompt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The sentences that are present, particularly in the introduction and conclusion, are grammatically accurate and show a good grasp of complex sentence structures. For example, 'It has been widely recognized that the issue... has become increasingly prevalent' is a well-formed complex sentence. However, the overall range is limited because the essay is incomplete. There is not enough text to demonstrate a wide range of structures or to assess your ability to maintain accuracy over a longer piece of writing. Focus on writing complete, error-free paragraphs to demonstrate your grammatical proficiency.

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

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