Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-05

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 5.5)

Quite a few countries have reported a major change in their educational system, where many students are choosing to study Arts and Humanties over Science subjects. There can be many reasons for this but the main one is Artificial Intelligence. A lot of the new generation believes that AI is going to take over the medical as well as the engineering industry. Assuming this would not be wrong since a lot of countries are now seeing massive rates of undergraduate unemployment. This is due to the fact that major firms are now relying on AI to do their work for them which leaves computer students, medical students and engineering students in a very confusing and tough situation. So this is a very crucial reason as to which students are now yearning to do something machines can not. Something that requires soul and uniqueness. I believe the effect this change will have on society will be substantial and powerful figures and even countries will be forced to make laws for the adequate use of Artifical Intelligence so that people can persue their dreams and passions. Another reason people dont persue science studies in certain countries is because of the financial strain it puts on them and their families. Many of the science degrees are quite expensive and can easily put a student in debt. And althuogh one can get a high paying job from that degree, ecen that is not garunteed in today's time. Art degrees and diplomas are immensely cheaper than science degrees and easier to persue.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt regarding the causes of fewer students choosing science and the effects this has on society. However, the development of ideas remains limited and somewhat superficial. For instance, the link between Artificial Intelligence and undergraduate unemployment is mentioned, but the explanation lacks sufficient extension and relies on generalisations. The position is discernible, but certain points, such as the discussion on tuition costs at the end, feel tacked on rather than fully integrated into a coherent argument. To reach a higher band, the writer needs to expand on their points with more specific examples and provide deeper analysis rather than briefly touching upon multiple ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic logical organisation to the response, and the writer attempts to guide the reader through the causes and effects. However, the text suffers from a lack of clear overall progression and paragraphing issues. The entire response is essentially lumped into a single bulky block of text, which makes the flow heavier and harder to follow. Furthermore, cohesive devices are occasionally repetitive or basic, such as the repeated use of 'so' and 'this is due to the fact that'. To improve, the writer must divide the essay into distinct, logically structured paragraphs and employ a wider, more accurate range of linking words to connect ideas smoothly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, providing enough range to communicate the basic arguments. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary items and topic-related terms, such as 'undergraduate unemployment' and 'financial strain'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors throughout the text, including 'Humanties' instead of 'humanities', 'persue' instead of 'pursue', 'althuogh' although, 'ecen' even, and 'garunteed' guaranteed. These inaccuracies highlight a limitation in control over lexical items. To achieve a higher score, the writer needs to expand their lexical repertoire and eliminate basic spelling mistakes to ensure greater precision and fluency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer demonstrates a limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple and moderately complex sentences. While there are some successful attempts at complex forms, such as 'Assuming this would not be wrong since a lot of countries are now seeing...', these structures are often accompanied by frequent errors. There are issues with sentence boundary punctuation, awkward phrasing, and preposition usage, such as in the sentence 'Another reason people dont persue science studies in certain countries is because of the financial strain it puts on them...'. To move up, the writer must incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical patterns with improved accuracy and better control over punctuation.

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