Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-07

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, a growing number of nations have witnessed a decline in proportion of students opting for science disciplines. This trend primarily stems from the difficult curriculum of science subjects and relatively easy options to study, available in the form of other subjects. this leads to a shortage of skilled scientific people and slow technological development.

The main cause behind the declining interest in university-level science subjects is the nature of these subjects. Science degree, such as physics, chemistry, or biological studies require intellectual minds to study intensively throughout the years. Consequently, many students consider them as excessively demanding compared to disciplines like business, management, or arts subjects. Furthermore, the modern job market heavily rewards sectors like finance, information technology and digital marketing, where entry level salaries are often higher.

This shift away from scientific education causes several detrimental effects on society. Most noticeable is a deficiency of scientific graduates causing a restrict to a country's technological and medical innovations. Critical challenges faced by humanity, such as developing renewable energy solutions, a treatment to fatal diseases depend heavily on classic scientific research. When fewer students choose science subjects, countries start relying on foreign scientific specialties, affecting the economy.

In conclusion, the reluctance of students to pursue science degrees in undergraduate programs is largely because of the subject's difficult academic curriculum and low salaries at entry level jobs in the field. If unaddressed, this phenomenon will eventually result in a shortage of skilled scientific researchers affecting a country's economical development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the question and gives a clear explanation of why students avoid science: demanding courses and better-paid alternatives. It also identifies social consequences, including reduced innovation and reliance on overseas expertise. These points are relevant, and the examples of renewable energy and disease treatment help illustrate the effects. However, the effects are developed less fully than the causes: the essay could explain more specifically how dependence on foreign specialists affects services, employment, or national resilience. The conclusion mainly repeats the causes and shortage of researchers rather than drawing together the wider societal consequences. More explanation and a concrete example for each main effect would make the response more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for causes and effects, and a conclusion. The progression from difficult courses and alternative careers to consequences for innovation is easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Consequently,” “Furthermore,” and “When fewer students choose science subjects” help connect ideas. At times, however, the links feel formulaic, and some references are not fully clear. For example, “This trend” in the introduction refers broadly to the decline, while the relationship between foreign expertise and economic effects could be explained more explicitly. The conclusion also repeats earlier points rather than synthesising them. Use clearer transitions between cause and consequence, and develop each paragraph around a more explicit sequence of claim, explanation, and example.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of topic vocabulary, including “decline,” “scientific research,” “renewable energy solutions,” and “technological and medical innovations.” These choices communicate the main ideas and show attempts to use more formal language. Some less common expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, however, such as “a restrict to a country's technological” and “foreign scientific specialties.” “Classic scientific research” is also not the intended collocation here; “fundamental” or “basic” research would be more natural. There are occasional word-form and spelling problems, including “economical development” where “economic development” is needed. Aim for precise, natural collocations rather than more elaborate wording, and check that nouns and adjectives fit the meaning you intend.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes both straightforward sentences and more complex structures, such as “When fewer students choose science subjects, countries start relying on foreign scientific specialties.” Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include the missing article in “Science degree,” the awkward construction “require intellectual minds to study intensively,” and “a treatment to fatal diseases,” where the sentence pattern and article use need correction. The introduction also begins a new sentence with lowercase “this,” and the final sentence has an unnecessary gap before “will.” These issues do not generally prevent understanding, but they limit accuracy. Review articles, singular and plural forms, and sentence boundaries, then proofread each sentence for a complete and natural grammatical structure.

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