Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-28

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 social and economic standing of women has undergone a profound transformation. However, despite these indisputable advancements, I strongly agree with the assertion that true gender equality remains an unrealized ideal in contemporary society.

Admittedly, women have made unprecedented strides in recent decades. In the mid-twentieth century, female roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere in many cultures, but today, women actively participate in almost all sectors of the economy and public life. Access to higher education has equalized in numerous nations, empowering women to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated fields such as engineering, medicine, and law. Furthermore, legislative changes, including anti-discrimination laws and robust property rights, have dismantled many formal barriers, granting women greater autonomy and representation than ever before.

Nevertheless, achieving progress is not synonymous with achieving parity. One of the most glaring indicators of ongoing inequality is the persistence of the gender pay gap. Even in highly developed nations, women frequently earn less than their male counterparts for performing equivalent roles. Furthermore, the "glass ceiling" phenomenon remains prevalent; while female entry into the broader workforce is high, women are still significantly underrepresented in executive boardrooms and senior political leadership. This disparity highlights deeply rooted systemic biases that continue to hinder female advancement at the highest levels.

Beyond the professional realm, ingrained cultural expectations continue to place an unequal burden on women. The concept of the "second shift"—whereby women are expected to manage the majority of childcare and household chores despite working full-time—is a widespread reality. This double burden often forces women to compromise on their career progression or opt for part-time work, which further perpetuates long-term economic disparities.

In conclusion, while the past 50 years have witnessed commendable and necessary shifts in the societal positioning of women, declaring that gender equality has been achieved is entirely premature. Until the wage gap is completely eradicated, executive representation is balanced, and domestic responsibilities are truly shared, societies must recognize that the journey toward absolute parity is still ongoing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the prompt by evaluating the extent to which gender equality has been achieved over the past 50 years. A clear position is established in the introduction ('I strongly agree with the assertion that true gender equality remains an unrealized ideal') and maintained consistently throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed and supported by relevant, concrete examples, such as the gender pay gap, the 'glass ceiling' phenomenon, and the 'second shift' concept. The arguments are extended logically into distinct paragraphs, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of both professional and domestic dimensions of the issue. There are no omissions, and the task is answered comprehensively, easily satisfying the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a high level of coherence and cohesion. Ideas are logically sequenced and flow naturally from the historical context to modern professional hurdles, cultural expectations, and a summary conclusion. Paragraphing is used skillfully, with each body paragraph dedicated to a distinct thematic point ('Admittedly, women have made unprecedented strides...', 'Nevertheless, achieving progress is not synonymous...', 'Beyond the professional realm...'). Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Nevertheless', and 'Consequently' are used flexibly and unobtrusively. Referencing is consistently clear, and the overall organizational structure guides the reader effortlessly through the argument, aligning fully with Band 8 standards.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary suitable for an academic context. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully, including phrases like 'profound transformation', 'indisputable advancements', 'glass ceiling phenomenon', 'systemic biases', and 'unrealized ideal'. Word choice and collocations are generally precise, and there are virtually no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While vocabulary use is sophisticated and natural, it stops just short of the effortless, native-like idiom mastery required for a Band 9, making Band 8 a very accurate and well-deserved score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of complex structures used with a high degree of flexibility and control. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and complex grammatical forms—such as participial phrases ('whereby women are expected to manage...') and concessive clauses—are integrated smoothly. Punctuation is accurate, and control over tense and agreement is excellent. Only very occasional minor slips could be conceived, which places the writing comfortably within the Band 8 criteria, where the majority of sentences are error-free and grammar is handled with robust competence.

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