Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-01

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 6.5)

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. This is because in the modern world education has become more accessible and affordable. In recent years, there has been a notable rise in both post secondary enrollment and variety of academic programs offered.

I believe this trend is largely positive because it creates more opportunities and better prepares people for the modern workforce. Firstly, increased access to higher education benefits individuals because more people can gain specialized skills, get better job and high salaries. For instance, courses in data science or AI did not exist 20 years ago, but now graduates can enter high-demand field.

Secondly, a wider range of courses allows students to pursue their interest. Not just medicine or law now universities give vocational, creative and technical courses that leads to more diverse economy. Universities now offer degrees in digital marketing and game designing, which align with modern industries.

Most importantly, continuing studies after school significantly enhances individual's employability and earning potential. As the range of courses expands, students can acquire specialized skills that are directly relevant to modern industries like technology, healthcare and digital media. For example, degree in data analytics or renewable energy were rare 20 years ago, but now they equip graduates to fill critical role in economy.

In conclusion, while there may be minor issue, the increase in both participation and course variety is positive development that empowers individuals and the society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating that the trend is positive. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of data science and AI. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; the second and third paragraphs cover similar ground regarding employability and specialized skills. To reach a higher band, you should ensure each paragraph introduces a distinct, well-extended argument rather than restating the same point. The conclusion is brief but effectively summarizes your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Most importantly' are used to guide the reader. However, the transition between the second and third body paragraphs is slightly weak because the ideas overlap significantly. Additionally, some referencing is slightly mechanical. Improving the flow between sentences by using more varied linking phrases would enhance the overall coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision, using terms like 'post-secondary enrollment', 'specialized skills', and 'high-demand field'. There are some minor collocation errors, such as 'get better job' (should be 'get better jobs') and 'fill critical role' (should be 'fill critical roles'). While you attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary, some word choices are slightly repetitive. Expanding your range of synonyms and ensuring correct pluralization would help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, particularly with articles and pluralization, such as 'individual's employability' (should be 'an individual's') and 'minor issue' (should be 'minor issues'). There are also occasional missing articles, such as 'in high-demand field'. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is generally accurate. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of articles.

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