Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-05

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 6.0)

Most countries are facing a conundrum because students are not opting for natural sciences at higher education institutions. Science plays a vital role in building the infrastructure of a country. It helps in research and development processes. In this essay, I will describe why students are not mastering sciences and how it affects our society.

Fewer students are choosing science because it is a complex subject that demands an extra workload, which most students cannot meet due to academic pressure and a lack of confidence in problem-solving situations. So, they prefer not to select science as it is as difficult and frustrating as mathematics. For instance, the students consider science a challenge; they choose humanities instead of physics.

Some other students do not choose science because of professional prospects. In their view, the other subjects would secure their future; they will be able to acquire more career opportunities with high salaries. Nowadays, most students go for AI, Law, and social services because, in their opinion, these jobs will save them in the future, and they will earn a handsome amount for their living. For instance, individuals select social services because they can also do them as remote jobs. Thus, it becomes convenient for living their life to the fullest.

Another reason students do not select science is that fewer graduates have resulted in a lot of empty specialised positions, and the local-market gap is increasing significantly day by day. Fewer graduates result in a lack of skilled workers, and a lot of technology and science masters are hired from overseas. We then have to pay them for their jobs, and we don't know if they are working properly or not.

In conclusion, while both points are valid, we should teach our students the importance of gaining scientific knowledge; we, as a nation, would be on the way to progress in a significant manner.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: causes and effects. The causes (academic difficulty and career prospects) are clearly identified, and the effects (market gaps and reliance on foreign labor) are discussed. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The explanation of why students avoid science is a bit repetitive, and the discussion on effects could be more deeply explored with more specific examples. The position is clear throughout, but the conclusion is slightly underdeveloped, failing to fully synthesize the points made regarding the societal impact. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is supported by more robust, detailed reasoning rather than general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'For instance', 'Thus', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother, and some referencing is slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. To improve, try to use a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that the links between sentences are more sophisticated to avoid a repetitive structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. You have used some good collocations like 'higher education institutions', 'research and development', and 'specialised positions'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'save them in the future' and 'living their life to the fullest', which sound slightly unnatural in this academic context. While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and idiomatic collocations that fit the formal tone of an IELTS essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over basic grammar, and errors are infrequent enough that they do not impede communication. There are some minor issues with phrasing, such as 'fewer graduates have resulted in a lot of empty specialised positions', which is slightly awkward. While you use some complex structures, the range could be broader to demonstrate greater flexibility. Most sentences are clear, but increasing the variety of subordinate clauses and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement would help elevate the score.

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

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