Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-09

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)

Knowing the fact that science plays an important role in the world, many students in the world are now least attractive towards science subjects in higher education. There are many reasons for this problem although it can affect the society in both good and bad terms.

There is no denying the fact that science is very important for this world because it creates a positive effect on society. No doubt science is very important but students still choosing computer study over science because of less opportunities in science sector. The world is of artificial intelligence and knowing this fact the AI can takeover science field, students do not prefer studying science as their higher education. Another possible reason is previous science students which are still looking for a better job in their field. No doubt less students in science will effect the society badly because human scientists are still needed for todays problems. For instance less science student means less competition and less competition means less working brains and that will lead to less solution until AI completely take over this field.

Students not preferring science do have more upcoming chances in other fields this is also a possible reason

Consequently, the decline in students can have serious consequences for society. A shortage of scientists may slow technological development, weaken healthcare and enviornmental research and reduce innovation. Therefore governments and universities should encourage students to study science by offering scholarships and improving facilities and providing attractive career opportunities in long term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt—causes and effects—but the development is somewhat superficial. While you identify reasons like career opportunities and the rise of AI, the explanations lack depth and specific evidence. For example, the claim that 'AI can takeover science field' is an interesting point but is not fully explored or linked clearly to student motivation. The effects on society are mentioned in the final paragraph, but these points are listed rather than discussed in detail. To improve, ensure each main idea is supported by a clear explanation or a concrete example to demonstrate a more thorough understanding of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'No doubt' are used multiple times, which limits the flow of your arguments. Additionally, some transitions between sentences are abrupt, such as the sudden shift to 'Students not preferring science do have more upcoming chances' in the third paragraph. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects logically to the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'good and bad terms' and 'very important', which are quite generic. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'least attractive towards' instead of 'least attracted to'. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to education and societal development. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetitive phrasing and make your writing more engaging.

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 hinder clarity. For instance, 'less students in science will effect the society' contains a subject-verb agreement error and a confusion between 'affect' and 'effect'. There are also issues with article usage and punctuation, such as 'the AI can takeover science field'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and word-form errors will significantly improve your score.

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

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