Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-02

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, an increasing number of people are choosing to continue their education after finishing school. At the same time, universities and colleges are offering a wider range of courses. In my opinion, this is a positive development because it provides people with better career opportunities and allows them to develop useful skills.

One major advantage of continuing education is that it can improve people's career prospects. In today's competitive job market, many employers require applicants to have specialised qualifications. By studying at university or college, young people can gain the knowledge and skills needed for particular professions. For example, a student who studies computer science can develop technical skills and later find employment in the IT industry. Therefore, higher education can help individuals achieve their professional goals.

Another benefit is that the increasing variety of courses gives students more freedom to choose subjects according to their interests and abilities. In the past, students had fewer educational options, whereas today they can study subjects such as business, information technology, engineering, medicine, media and many other fields. This variety can also help students discover their talents and choose careers that suit them.

Furthermore, higher education can contribute to personal development. University students often learn how to think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively. These skills are useful not only in professional life but also in everyday situations. For instance, students who participate in group projects can improve their teamwork and communication skills.

In conclusion, I believe that the increasing number of people continuing their education and the wider range of courses available at universities and colleges are positive developments. They provide better career opportunities, greater educational choice and valuable personal skills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the task well, establishing a clear and consistent position throughout that the trend is a positive development. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning how studying computer science helps students find employment in the IT industry. The arguments regarding career prospects, course variety, and personal development are logically extended, demonstrating a strong understanding of the prompt. To move to an even higher level, the response could push the analysis further by exploring potential counterarguments, such as the economic burden of extended studies or graduate saturation in the job market, thereby providing a more nuanced exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

Ideas are logically sequenced, and the progression of the argument is clear throughout the essay. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct, well-defined benefit of higher education, starting with career prospects and moving through course variety to personal development. Cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'Another benefit', and 'Furthermore' are managed very well to guide the reader smoothly from one point to the next. Referencing and substitution are clear and unobtrusive. To achieve the highest band, the essay could employ even more sophisticated and subtle cohesive ties rather than relying primarily on standard transition phrases at the paragraph beginnings.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, demonstrating an ability to incorporate less common items with general awareness of style and collocation, such as 'competitive job market', 'specialised qualifications', and 'critical thinking'. Word choice is generally appropriate and allows the message to be communicated clearly. However, vocabulary is occasionally standard rather than sophisticated, and there is a tendency to rely on familiar phrasing without fully pushing into advanced lexical chunks. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to integrate more idiomatic expressions, nuanced academic phrasing, and precise lexical collocations that demonstrate greater natural control and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response features a wide range of sentence structures, successfully combining complex and simple forms, such as conditional ideas, participial clauses, and relative clauses ('a student who studies computer science can develop...'). The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and the writer displays excellent control of grammar, punctuation, tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement throughout the essay. Only very occasional minor slips might occur, but grammar never impedes communication. To maintain this high standard, the writer should continue to ensure absolute precision when attempting highly intricate multi-clause syntactic structures.

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