Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-12

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 7.0)

In recent years, many countries have witnessed a decline in the number of students choosing science-related subjects at university. This trend can be attributed to several factors, and it may have significant consequences for society and economic development.

One of the main reasons for the decreasing popularity of science courses is that they are often perceived as difficult and demanding. Subjects such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics require strong analytical skills and a considerable amount of time and effort. As a result, many students prefer disciplines that are considered less challenging. Another factor is the lack of awareness regarding career opportunities in science. While professions in business, law, and social media are highly visible and often associated with financial success, scientific careers may appear less attractive or rewarding to young people. Furthermore, inadequate teaching methods and limited access to modern laboratory facilities can reduce students’ interest in science from an early age.

This trend can have several negative effects on society. Firstly, a shortage of qualified scientists, engineers, and researchers may hinder technological advancement and innovation. Scientific research plays a crucial role in developing new medicines, improving agricultural productivity, and addressing environmental challenges. Without a sufficient number of skilled professionals, progress in these fields could slow significantly. Secondly, many industries rely heavily on scientific expertise. A lack of graduates in science-related fields may lead to labour shortages, reducing a country’s competitiveness in the global economy. For example, sectors such as healthcare, renewable energy, and information technology require highly trained scientific personnel to function effectively.

In conclusion, the declining number of students pursuing science at university is mainly due to the perceived difficulty of these subjects and limited awareness of career prospects. If this trend continues, it may result in a shortage of skilled professionals and impede scientific and economic progress. Therefore, governments and educational institutions should encourage greater participation in science education through improved teaching methods and career guidance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly identifying both the causes of the decline in science students and the societal effects. The introduction sets a clear tone, and the body paragraphs are well-developed. For instance, the causes are clearly divided into perceived difficulty, lack of awareness of career opportunities, and inadequate teaching methods. Similarly, the effects are systematically explored, focusing on hindrance to technological advancement and industry labour shortages. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, and the ideas are extended with relevant, real-world examples such as healthcare, renewable energy, and information technology. This performance aligns fully with the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured, with each paragraph having a distinct central topic. The introduction sets the framework, the two body paragraphs handle causes and effects respectively, and the conclusion neatly summarises the main points. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'One of the main reasons', 'Furthermore', 'Firstly', and 'Secondly', ensuring smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Paragraphing is managed logically and appropriately. The cohesion strategy is well-managed and meets the criteria for Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common items and collocations are used effectively, such as 'analytical skills', 'technological advancement', 'agricultural productivity', and 'global economy'. Word choice is generally precise, and the phrasing sounds natural and appropriate for an academic task 2 response. There are only very occasional minor lexical slips, which do not impede communication at all. The control over vocabulary easily satisfies the requirements for a Band 7 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a wide variety of complex sentence structures with a high degree of accuracy. Excellent examples include conditional and participial constructions such as 'While professions in business, law, and social media are highly visible...' and 'If this trend continues, it may result in a shortage...'. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and the few minor errors that might occur are non-systematic. Punctuation and grammatical control are handled with confidence throughout the response. This level of syntactic variety and grammatical precision clearly warrants a Band 8 score.

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