Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-28

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries these days, the number of people continuing their education after school has increased, and the range of courses available at universities and colleges has also increased.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant experience.

Student answer (Band 7.0)

In recent decade, an increasing proportion of school leavers in many nations have opted to pursue higher education, a trend mirrored by the growing diversity of programmes offered by universities and colleges. I consider this to be a largely positive development, though it is not without certain drawbacks.

The most compelling advantage lies in the enhanced employability that further study provides. As economies shift towards knowledge-based industries, specialised qualifications in fields such as data science, renewable energy, and biotechnology have become increasingly valuable and the expansion of course options allow students to tailor their education more precisely to emerging job markets. Additionally, a wider curriculum cater to diverse interests and aptitudes, meaning students who might once have found no suitable pathway-whether in creative arts, applied sciences, or vocational trades-can now find programmes aligned with their strengths. This, in turn, fosters greater innovation and a more adaptable workforce, benefiting society as a whole.

Nevertheless, this expansion carries certain risks that should not be overlooked. A rapid proliferation of courses can sometimes outpace the ability of institutions to maintain rigorous academic standards, resulting in quality. Moreover, as more young people extend their education, some may accumulate substantial debt or delay entry into the workforce without a corresponding improvement in carrier prospects, particularly if their chosen courses has limited market demand.

On balance, however, I believe the benefits considerably outweigh these concerns. Provided universities maintain robust quality controls and offers clear guidance on career outcomes, the growing accessibility and diversity of higher education represents a valuable investment in both individual potential and national economic competitiveness.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the trend is positive while acknowledging potential drawbacks. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the discussion on employability and the diversification of curricula. The argument is balanced and supported by relevant examples, such as the mention of data science and biotechnology. The conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points, reinforcing the writer's stance. The response is fully relevant to the task and demonstrates a high level of engagement with the topic, meeting the requirements for a Band 8 score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'Nevertheless' and 'On balance'. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The use of referencing is generally precise, and the flow of information is natural throughout the text. The structure is coherent and supports the overall argument well, fitting the criteria for a Band 8.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is varied and precise, demonstrating a good command of academic language. Phrases such as 'knowledge-based industries', 'rapid proliferation', and 'national economic competitiveness' show a sophisticated range. There are minor collocation or word-choice slips, such as 'resulting in quality' (which is incomplete) and 'carrier prospects' (a spelling error for 'career'). However, these are rare and do not impede communication. The writer uses less common items with awareness of style, which is characteristic of a Band 7 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex structures, including conditional sentences and relative clauses. Most sentences are error-free, and the control over grammar and punctuation is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the expansion of course options allow' should be 'allows'; 'a wider curriculum cater' should be 'caters'; 'chosen courses has' should be 'have'). Despite these occasional errors, the majority of the text is accurate, and the complexity of the sentence structures is maintained throughout, justifying a Band 7.

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