Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-09-30

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 6.5)

In recent years, an increasing number of universities worldwide have reported a noticeable declined in the enrollment of students in scientific discplines. This essay will explore the primary causes behind this trend, the perceived difficulty of the subject and the allure of other lucrative field, and discuss its detrimental effects on technological advancement and public healthcare systems.

The primary causes for the dwindling interest in science field is the rigorous of the curriculum. In other words, scientific disciplines require deep analytic thinking, extensive laboratory hours, and high level of mathemetical proficiency. Many students find it difficult compared to humanities or creative fields, which they perceive as more flexible. Furthermore, the job market plays a crucial role. Careers in fields like business, finance, and engineering often offer much quicker financial rewards and clearer upward mobility immediately after a bachelor's degree. For example, a marketing graduate might secure a high-paying corporate role much faster than biology graduate, who often needs to pursue a costly and lengthy master's or PhD to obtain a well-paying research position.

This shift in educational field has severe consequences for society. Firstly, a shortage of science graduates directly slows down scientific and technological innovation. Without a continuous influx of young researchers, breakthoughs in critical areas like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate change mitigation will face stagnation. Secondly, the healthcare sector is heavily dependent on basic and applied sciences. A lack of graduates in chemistry and biochemistry can lead to a deficit in pharmaceutical development, making society vulnerable to emerging health crises and delaying the discovery of life-saving medications.

In conclusion, the decline in university science students is driven by the academic difficulty of the coursework and more appealing, immediate financial prospects in alternative fields. If left unaddressed, this trend will ultimately cripple societal progress by hindering technological breakthroughs and undermining vital public health infrastructure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the task fully and effectively. The introduction clearly outlines both the causes (perceived difficulty and allure of other lucrative fields) and the effects (detrimental impact on technological advancement and public healthcare). Body paragraph one thoroughly examines why students turn away from science due to the rigorous curriculum and immediate financial pressures. Body paragraph two logically extends these ideas into societal consequences, specifically addressing innovation stagnation and pharmaceutical deficits. The position is maintained clearly throughout the essay, and the ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as comparing marketing graduates to biology graduates. Overall, this performance aligns strongly with the Band 7.0 descriptors, as all parts of the prompt are addressed with clear extension and supporting details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and overall progression from introduction to causes, effects, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For example', 'Firstly', and 'Secondly' are used to connect ideas effectively, though referencing is occasionally slightly mechanical. The introduction of the body paragraphs sets clear signposts for the reader, ensuring the argument flows smoothly without major disruptions. Minor flaws in lexical cohesion do not impede the overall readability of the text. This demonstrates solid adherence to the Band 7.0 criteria for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision throughout the essay. Phrases like 'lucrative field', 'upward mobility', 'climate change mitigation', and 'public health infrastructure' demonstrate a good control of less common lexical items with an awareness of collocation and academic style. However, there are a few noticeable slips and word-form errors, such as 'noticeable declined' instead of 'decline', 'discplines' instead of 'disciplines', and 'science field' instead of 'science fields'. Despite these occasional lexical errors, the vocabulary is adequate to convey precise meanings and does not impede communication, placing the response comfortably within the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, solidifying at 7.0 due to the ambition of the phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an ability to construct subordinate clauses and extended noun phrases effectively. Examples include 'Without a continuous influx of young researchers, breakthroughs in critical areas like... will face stagnation.' There are, however, several grammatical and spelling errors present, such as 'rigorous of the curriculum' instead of 'rigour of the curriculum', 'mathemetical' spelling, and 'biology graduate' lacking an article ('a biology graduate'). While these errors occur with some frequency, the majority of complex sentences are well-controlled, and the mistakes rarely impede communication. This balance of complex structures alongside recurring minor errors matches the Band 6.5 descriptor closely, rounding to a fair 6.5.

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