Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-24

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, an increasing proportion of school-leavers are choosing to pursue higher education, while universities and colleges are offering a wider variety of courses than ever before. In my view, this is an overwhelmingly positive development, although it can create certain challenges if higher education expands without sufficient attention to quality and employment prospects.

One major advantage is that greater participation in higher education can equip individuals with specialised knowledge and skills that are increasingly valuable in modern economies. As industries become more dependent on technology, scientific research and professional expertise, a well-educated workforce is better prepared to adapt to these changes. For example, the growth of courses in fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy and data science enables young people to acquire skills that were scarcely available to previous generations. This can improve their employment opportunities while also contributing to innovation and economic growth.

Another significant benefit is the increasing diversity of courses. Traditional academic subjects are now complemented by vocational, creative and interdisciplinary programmes, allowing students to select education that corresponds more closely to their interests and career ambitions. Someone who is not suited to conventional subjects such as history or mathematics, for instance, may thrive in areas such as digital design, hospitality management or environmental technology. Greater choice can therefore make education more inclusive and enable people to develop their particular talents.

Nevertheless, this trend is not entirely without drawbacks. If too many young people enter university simply because higher education is regarded as the default route to success, some institutions may produce graduates whose qualifications do not match labour-market demand. This could result in graduate unemployment or underemployment, particularly when vocational training and practical experience would have been more appropriate. However, this problem can be reduced if educational institutions work closely with employers and ensure that new courses provide relevant, high-quality training.

In conclusion, the growing number of people pursuing further education and the wider range of courses available are positive developments overall. They provide individuals with greater opportunities to acquire relevant skills and pursue careers suited to their abilities, provided that higher education remains closely connected to the needs of society and the labour market.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the increase in higher education participation and the wider range of courses, while clearly taking a balanced position that views this as an overwhelmingly positive development. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the growth of courses in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and data science. The writer also considers potential drawbacks, like graduate unemployment, demonstrating a well-rounded understanding of the issue. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, meeting all the requirements of Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression from introduction to body paragraphs and a concluding summary. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, such as specialized knowledge and course diversity in the body sections, followed by a well-integrated counter-argument. Cohesive devices are used naturally and flexibly without being overly mechanical (e.g., 'One major advantage', 'Another significant benefit', 'Nevertheless', 'In conclusion'). Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately throughout the response, fully reflecting Band 8 standards.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary range with very natural control. Less common lexical items are used skillfully and appropriately in context, such as 'school-leavers', 'interdisciplinary programmes', 'underemployment', and 'labour-market demand'. Word choice and collocations are accurate, with only rare minor instances of phrasing that could be slightly more polished. The range used is sufficient to allow precision and natural fluency, easily justifying a Band 7.5 or 8.0 score; given the solid control of style, a Band 8.0 is awarded.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The text features a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. Sentences are well-constructed, incorporating subordinate clauses, conditional structures (e.g., 'provided that higher education remains closely connected'), and participial phrases seamlessly. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled with precision. Minor errors are practically non-existent, reflecting the high standards of control expected at Band 8.

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