Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-07-31

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The position of women has changed a great deal in many societies over the past 50 years. But these societies cannot claim to have achieved gender equality

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.5)

It is true that women's roles have transformed considerably in the last five decades, yet I agree that most societies have not fully achieved gender equality. This essay will discuss the progress made and the persistent gaps that remains.

On one hand, undeniable advances have taken place. Women now have far greater access to education and employment than they did fifty years ago. In many countries, girls attend school and university in numbers equal to or exceeding boys, and women increasingly occupy senior positions in politics, business, and academia. For instance, several nations have recently elected female heads of governments, something almost unimaginable in the 1970s. Legal reforms have also granted women rights over property, marriage, and reproduction that were previously denied.

However, these achievements do not amount to full equality. A significant gender pay gap persists even in developed economies, with women often earning less than men for comparable work. Women also remain underrepresented in top leadership roles; relatively few chief executives of major corporations are female. Beyond the workplace, unpaid domestic labor and childcare still fall disproportionately on women, limiting their career progression. In many developing regions, issues such as child marriage, restricted mobility, and violence against women continue largely unaddressed, showing that progress has been uneven across the globe.

In conclusion, while women's position has undoubtedly improved over the past fifty years, structural and cultural barriers mean that true gender equality has not yet been reached in most societies. Continued policy reform and cultural change are needed to close the remaining gaps.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, with a balanced discussion of progress (education, employment, legal rights) and persistent barriers (pay gap, leadership representation, domestic labor, and regional disparities). The arguments are supported by relevant examples, such as the mention of female heads of government and the contrast between developed and developing regions. The response is cohesive and provides a comprehensive answer to the 'to what extent' question by acknowledging both sides while maintaining a firm stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the progress made and the remaining challenges is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On one hand,' 'However,' and 'In conclusion,' which guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural, making the essay easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'transformed considerably,' 'undeniable advances,' 'disproportionately,' and 'structural and cultural barriers' show a level of sophistication. There is a good awareness of collocation, and the vocabulary is used with precision. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more nuanced or topic-specific academic collocations could elevate the response further. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'while women's position has undoubtedly improved...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There is a minor subject-verb agreement slip in the introduction ('gaps that remains' should be 'gaps that remain'), but this is a rare, non-systematic error that does not affect the clarity of your writing. Overall, the grammatical control is strong and supports the sophisticated nature of your arguments.

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