Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The most important aim of science should be to improve people’s lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answers and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

It is often argued that the primary aim of science should be to enhance people's lives. While some people may disagree with this notion, I completely agree because this can improve career opportunities and enhance overall well-being. This essay will explain the reasons behind my opinion.

To begin with, one notable reason for my agreement is that science can provide better career opportunities for citizens. This is because recent graduates can now work remotely from any part of the world. It means that students also get benefits by finding online jobs and strengthening their personal and professional lives. To take an example of China, where professionals can work remotely for different international companies. Therefore, it is understandable why many people hold this opinion.

Another significant reason why I agree with this perspective is that science also provides long-term sustainable development. As a growing number of individuals use public transport and other services have happened because of science. This can lead to a better and more accessible life. For instance, a report was published in the New York Times that artificial intelligence and technological advancements have evolved as the result of science. Thus, I remain convinced that this viewpoint is more beneficial in the long term.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that science has brought various benefits for mankind and it must be used only for good purposes. This is based on the fact that it guarantees better career opportunities and proves beneficial for overall well-being. Hence, this approach is likely to bring greater long-term benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention career opportunities and sustainable development, the connection between these points and the core argument—that science should aim to improve lives—is not fully explored. For instance, the paragraph on career opportunities focuses on remote work rather than explaining how this specifically improves the quality of life for the average person. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point directly reinforces your main thesis with more depth and specific, logical reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'Another significant reason,' and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the mention of public transport and the reference to a New York Times report on AI is abrupt and lacks a smooth logical link. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that sentences flow more naturally into one another would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'sustainable development,' 'professional lives,' and 'technological advancements.' However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the precision required for higher bands. Some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'other services have happened because of science,' which is grammatically awkward and lacks lexical clarity. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations and avoid relying on simple verbs like 'have' or 'get' when more sophisticated alternatives are available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'students also get benefits by finding online jobs' and 'other services have happened because of science,' which slightly impede the flow. While your meaning is generally clear, there is a lack of variety in complex structures. To achieve a higher score, focus on using a wider range of subordinate clauses and ensure that your subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are more consistent.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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