Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-10-25

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 4.0)

Today, students not showing interst towards science at university level is a growing concern in many parts of the world. this essay will outline the main causes of this problem and suggest some viable solutions.

There are several factors contributing to this problem. Firstly, students want to choose subjects of their interst and comfort. This is because that they believe science is toughest subject and only brilliant can study. For instance,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify a relevant cause: some students see science as difficult and believe it is suitable only for highly able learners. However, the response does not answer the full question. It gives no effects of low science enrolment on society, and the promised “viable solutions” are not requested and are not developed. The example begins with “For instance,” but is left unfinished, so the cause is not supported with a complete example. The response also falls substantially short of the required 250 words, leaving the ideas very limited and under-developed. To improve, address both causes and societal effects directly, explain each point, and support them with relevant examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening introduces the topic, followed by a paragraph beginning “There are several factors,” and “Firstly” signals the first cause. These markers help the reader recognise the intended direction. However, the response stops mid-example, so there is no completed development, transition to effects, or conclusion; the overall progression is therefore incomplete. The opening also promises “solutions,” which does not match the task’s focus on causes and effects. Plan a clear sequence—introduction, causes, effects, and conclusion—and use linking phrases to show how each idea relates to the next. Complete each paragraph before moving on.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “science,” “university level,” “growing concern,” and “contributing to this problem,” which makes the subject clear. There is also an attempt at more formal phrasing in “viable solutions.” However, the range is limited by the short response, and several spelling or word-choice problems reduce accuracy: “interst” appears twice, and “toughest” is less suitable in this context than “most difficult.” The phrase “only brilliant” is also incomplete or unnatural for the intended meaning. Build a wider set of precise terms for causes and social effects, such as scientific careers, skills shortages, and technological development, and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes both simple statements and an attempt at a complex sentence: “This is because that they believe science is toughest subject…” This shows an effort to explain a reason, but the structure is not controlled: “because” should not be followed by “that” here, and the sentence needs an article before “toughest subject.” The opening also has a sentence-boundary and capitalisation problem: “world. this essay” should begin a new sentence with a capital letter. Most of the writing relies on short, straightforward structures, so there is little evidence of a wider grammatical range. Practise accurate clauses for explaining causes and consequences, and proofread sentence openings and articles.

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