Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-12

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 7.5)

Over the past half-century, the societal status of women has undergone a profound transformation. However, despite these undeniable advancements, I completely agree that modern societies have not yet achieved true gender equality. This is primarily due to persistent disparities in professional compensation and the unequal distribution of domestic labor.

It is undeniable that the position of women has improved dramatically since the mid-twentieth century. Previously, female roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere, but today, women have secured access to higher education and entered almost every professional sector. For instance, in fields historically dominated by men, such as software development and engineering, female participation has surged. This shift has allowed millions of women to achieve a level of financial independence and societal influence that was unimaginable fifty years ago.

Nevertheless, this progress does not equate to parity. A major barrier to true equality is the persistent gender pay gap and the "glass ceiling" in the corporate world. Even when possessing identical qualifications and experience, women frequently earn less than their male counterparts and remain severely underrepresented in executive leadership roles.

Furthermore, deeply ingrained societal expectations still heavily burden women with unremunerated domestic duties. Even women working demanding full-time jobs are often expected to manage the majority of household chores and childcare. This results in an exhausting "second shift" that hinders their professional progression and personal freedom, a burden that is rarely placed on men to the same degree.

In conclusion, while the past fifty years have yielded significant educational and professional victories for women, claiming that gender equality has been achieved is premature. Until the systemic wage gap is completely eradicated and domestic responsibilities are shared equally, true parity will remain an aspiration rather than a reality.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear, well-developed position throughout the essay. The response directly answers the prompt regarding whether societies can claim to have achieved gender equality. The writer takes a firm stance of complete agreement and supports this position with two well-chosen main ideas: persistent professional compensation disparities and the unequal distribution of domestic labor. The ideas are extended and supported with logical arguments and relevant examples, such as reference to the glass ceiling and the 'second shift'. The response meets all the requirements of a Band 8 level for Task Achievement by covering all parts of the prompt well and presenting fully developed ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and the progression is clear throughout the essay. The essay begins with a clear introduction that outlines the writer's position and main supporting points. Each body paragraph focuses on a distinct, coherent theme, moving smoothly from historical context to modern professional barriers, and finally to domestic responsibilities. Cohesive devices are managed well without being intrusive, utilizing transitional phrases such as 'Consequently', 'Nevertheless', and 'Furthermore' appropriately. Paragraphing is used skillfully to structure the argument, resulting in a cohesive and easy-to-follow flow that satisfies the criteria for Band 8.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic discussion on gender equality. Less common lexical items are used skillfully, including expressions such as 'profound transformation', 'unremunerated domestic duties', 'systemic wage gap', and 'glass ceiling'. Word choices and collocations are generally very accurate and natural. There are only occasional minor limitations, but overall the vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise meanings smoothly. This strong performance places the response comfortably at a Band 8 level for Lexical Resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a wide range of complex grammatical structures with a high degree of control. Sentences are varied in length and structure, incorporating participial phrases, conditional clauses, and relative clauses effectively (e.g., 'Even when possessing identical qualifications and experience...'). The majority of sentences are entirely error-free, and any minor slips do not impede communication. Punctuation and grammatical markers are handled with precision throughout the essay. This excellent control of grammar and syntax fully aligns with the descriptors for a Band 8 score.

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