Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-12

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 5.5)

In numerous countries most students are not selecting to study science at universities.There are several causes.

On the one hand, students choosing arts because it is easy to learn as compare to the science subjects.Moreover, some pupils see arts as their hobbies such as paintings, joining a music club, learn about politics, statistics and sculpturings. Arts subjects also provide the general information about the countries including sports and politics.Historical subjects give them a lot of information about the old buildings that reflect their cultures and traditions. As a result, they are stay connected with their values. some individuals think that arts subjects are easy to learn and they may achieve more marks in these subjects, which will be really benefical for their academic excellence and prospereous future. Consequently, by avoiding sceince subjects, they have more time to spend with their families and friends. Moreover, these subjects make them feel happy, relaxed and they mitigate their anxiety which really helpful for mental and physcial health. Behind the reason not choosing science subjects there are no practial work in academic institutes.Teacher just focus on theory not practical work.

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks that society will have. If all the adults will move arts subjects there will be no scientists, doctors and engineers . For instance, if people suffer from diseases who will save them. There will be no innovation and creativity because mostly scients research on different projects.

In conclusion, Governments and organizational institues should focus on their infrastructure like school libraries, experimental labs and computer labs. In this way mostly students will show their interest in science subjects as well arts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both questions: it gives reasons for choosing arts over science, including perceived ease, personal interests, and a lack of practical work, then describes possible social consequences such as shortages of scientists, doctors, and engineers and reduced innovation. These are relevant ideas, and the examples help make the effects understandable. However, the causes receive much more attention than the effects, which are stated briefly and not developed with explanation or specific examples. Some points, such as spending more time with family and feeling relaxed, are not clearly connected to the decision to avoid science. To strengthen the response, explain how each cause influences students’ choices and develop the societal effects beyond listing professions and innovation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable overall structure: an opening, a paragraph focused mainly on causes, a paragraph on effects, and a conclusion. The contrastive signposts “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help readers follow the shift in focus. However, the first body paragraph contains many ideas in a long sequence, and the relationship between some points is not always clear; for example, the discussion of arts hobbies, cultural values, family time, and mental health moves quickly without clear grouping. The conclusion introduces recommendations about facilities rather than directly summarising the causes and effects. Use clearer topic sentences, group related reasons, and make links between claims explicit to improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate its main ideas, including “scientists,” “engineers,” “innovation,” “experimental labs,” and “academic institutes.” It also attempts more specific language about education and society. However, noticeable spelling and word-choice errors sometimes make the reader pause, such as “sceince,” “scients,” “benefical,” and “prospereous.” Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, including “students choosing arts,” “general information about the countries,” and “move arts subjects.” Repetition of “subjects” and “arts” also limits flexibility. Build accuracy by checking spelling and learning natural collocations, such as “choose arts subjects,” “practical science lessons,” and “pursue a career in science.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts to use both simple and more complex structures, including conditional sentences such as “If all the adults will move arts subjects there will be no scientists” and a relative clause in “buildings that reflect their cultures and traditions.” The main message is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “students choosing arts” lacks a finite verb, “as compare to” has an incorrect comparative construction, and “they are stay connected” combines incompatible verb forms. The conditional sentence also needs a more suitable verb form, while “which really helpful” is missing a verb. Sentence boundaries and spacing after full stops need attention. Practise complete clauses, verb forms, and accurate conditional patterns while retaining the range of sentence types attempted.

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

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