Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-02

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 7.5)

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 expanded. While this development may create certain challenges, I believe that it is largely positive because it provides better employment opportunities and enables individuals to develop specialised skills.

One major advantage of continuing education is that it can provide better opportunities for employment. This is because employers often prefer candidates with higher educational qualifications, as they are generally expected to possess greater knowledge and more advanced skills. As a result, individuals with additional qualifications may have a competitive advantage when applying for jobs. For example, a graduate with a master's degree and specialised knowledge may be more likely to secure a professional position than an applicant with only an undergraduate qualification. Therefore, increased access to higher education can significantly improve people's career prospects.

Another significant benefit is that a wider range of courses allows people to develop skills in specific areas. In other words, individuals can choose programmes that closely match their professional interests and long-term career goals. This can lead to greater expertise and enable people to deal with more complex tasks in their chosen fields. For instance, a qualified dentist may pursue further education in a specialised area of dentistry to broaden their knowledge and improve their ability to treat complicated cases. Consequently, expanding opportunities for further education can benefit both individuals and the wider society.

In conclusion, although the increasing number of people pursuing higher education may create some challenges, I believe that this is predominantly a positive development. This is primarily because it provides people with better employment opportunities and allows them to acquire specialised knowledge and skills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. Each body paragraph introduces a distinct, relevant idea—employment prospects and skill development—which are well-supported with logical explanations and concrete examples, such as the reference to a dentist pursuing further specialisation. The ideas are extended sufficiently to meet the requirements of the task, and the conclusion effectively summarises your main points without introducing new information. The response is well-balanced and demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'This is because', 'As a result', 'In other words', and 'Consequently', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. The use of referencing is accurate, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'competitive advantage', 'professional position', and 'long-term career goals' show a good grasp of academic collocations. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the task, it stays within a relatively standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'vocational training', 'academic rigour', or 'professional advancement', to demonstrate greater flexibility and nuance in your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional-like structure in 'a graduate with a master's degree... may be more likely to secure...'. The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, demonstrating a high level of control. To move towards a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, to show greater flexibility.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.