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)

It is true that women's roles have transformed considerably over the last five decades, yet I largely agree that true gender equality remains unachieved in most societies.

On one hand, remarkable progress is undeniable. Women today have far greater access to education, employment, and political representation than they did fifty years ago. In many countries, laws now guarantee equal voting rights, protect against workplace discrimination, and allow women to pursue careers once reserved exclusively for men, such as engineering, law, and politics. Some nations have even been led by female prime ministers or presidents, which would have been almost unthinkable in the mid-twentieth century.

However, despite these advances, deep-rooted inequalities persist. The gender pay gap remains a significant issue worldwide; women frequently earn less than men for equivalent work, even in developed economies. Women are also still underrepresented in senior leadership positions and corporate boardrooms, a phenomenon often referred to as the "glass ceiling." Furthermore, the unequal division of domestic responsibilities continues to burden women disproportionately, as they often juggle full-time careers alongside the majority of childcare and household duties. In many parts of the world, cultural and religious traditions still restrict women's freedoms regarding marriage, education, and personal autonomy.

In conclusion, while legal and social reforms have undoubtedly improved women's status compared to the past, the persistence of pay disparities, underrepresentation in leadership, and unequal domestic burdens shows that genuine gender equality has not yet been fully realized. Continued effort, particularly in changing entrenched cultural attitudes, is necessary before this goal can be achieved.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the task thoroughly and maintained a clear position throughout the essay. The prompt asks whether societies can claim to have achieved gender equality given the changes over the past 50 years. You successfully acknowledge the progress made in your second paragraph ('Women today have far greater access to education, employment, and political representation') before effectively arguing in your third paragraph that true equality remains elusive due to ongoing issues like the gender pay gap and the 'glass ceiling.' Your ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as reference to careers once reserved for men and unequal domestic burdens. The conclusion neatly summarizes your position without introducing new arguments. This response fully satisfies the requirements for Task Achievement at a high level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Your essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introductory thesis to acknowledged counter-arguments, followed by your primary supporting points, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'On one hand,' 'However, despite these advances,' and 'Furthermore.' Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each new idea or shift in perspective clearly separated. The referencing between sentences and paragraphs is seamless, ensuring that the reader can easily follow your line of argument without any jarring transitions or confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You display a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion on gender equality. You successfully incorporate uncommon lexical items and sophisticated collocations, such as 'deep-rooted inequalities,' 'glass ceiling,' 'personal autonomy,' and 'entrenched cultural attitudes.' Word choice is generally precise, and you avoid repetitive phrasing by employing varied synonyms throughout the response. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While a few more idioms or highly nuanced academic phrases could potentially elevate the writing even further, the current range is robust, mature, and entirely appropriate for a high band score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a very strong command of grammatical structures, successfully utilizing a wide mix of complex sentences alongside clear, concise simple forms. Examples of sophisticated syntax include concessive clauses ('while legal and social reforms have undoubtedly improved women's status') and relative clauses ('a phenomenon often referred to as the glass ceiling'). The majority of your sentences are entirely error-free, showcasing excellent punctuation, tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement. Control over grammar is consistent throughout the entire essay, and there are no awkward phrasings or mechanical errors that hinder the flow of reading. This performance easily meets the criteria for a high grammatical score.

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