This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of science subjects/majors from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Science

Nowadays, not enough students choose science subjects at university in many countries.

Why is this?

What effects does this have on society?

It has become increasingly less common in recent years for individuals to major in STEM-related subjects. In my opinion, this is the result of the growth of more business-oriented fields of study though the actual effects on society are marginal.

Greater numbers of young people now opt to major in subjects related to economics and finance rather than science. Over the past century, economies globally have grown and can now support white-collar professions such as those in marketing, banking, investment, and finance. These occupations allow an individual to engage directly in earning a high salary without requiring the hard work or talent that is needed for intensive scientific jobs. It is therefore only natural that individuals will increasingly gravitate towards work that guarantees them the greatest possible rewards with the least possible effort.

However, this shift to more lucrative fields only moderately impacts the field of science. The reason for that is that there is still substantial demand for innovation in scientific fields being driven by both private and public interests. A strong example of this situation would be the worldwide response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid development of viable vaccines. The main areas where science is hurt by interest in other majors is at the fringes where the average worker is more likely to pursue a job at a bank or marketing firm rather than an engineering or manufacturing company. Although this has led to a decrease among certain segments of the population in their passion for scientific endeavors, there is still great work being done by professionals in a variety of fields.

In conclusion, it is a logical consequence of more developed economies that many students are now less likely to major in the sciences. However, the impact on society is largely imperceptible and compensated for in various ways.

Analysis

1. It has become increasingly less common in recent years for individuals to major in STEM-related subjects. 2. In my opinion, this is the result of the growth of more business-oriented fields of study though the actual effects on society are marginal.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Greater numbers of young people now opt to major in subjects related to economics and finance rather than science. 2. Over the past century, economies globally have grown and can now support white-collar professions such as those in marketing, banking, investment, and finance. 3. These occupations allow an individual to engage directly in earning a high salary without requiring the hard work or talent that is needed for intensive scientific jobs. 4. It is therefore only natural that individuals will increasingly gravitate towards work that guarantees them the greatest possible rewards with the least possible effort.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.

1. However, this shift to more lucrative fields only moderately impacts the field of science. 2. The reason for that is that there is still substantial demand for innovation in scientific fields being driven by both private and public interests. 3. A strong example of this situation would be the worldwide response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid development of viable vaccines. 4. The main areas where science is hurt by interest in other majors is at the fringes where the average worker is more likely to pursue a job at a bank or marketing firm rather than an engineering or manufacturing company. 5. Although this has led to a decrease among certain segments of the population in their passion for scientific endeavors, there is still great work being done by professionals in a variety of fields.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
  5. Keep adding in the result to develop your ideas more.

1. In conclusion, it is a logical consequence of more developed economies that many students are now less likely to major in the sciences. 2. However, the impact on society is largely imperceptible and compensated for in various ways.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

It has become increasingly less common in recent years for individuals to major in STEM-related subjects. In my opinion, this is the result of the growth of more business-oriented fields of study though the actual effects on society are marginal.

Greater numbers of young people now opt to major in subjects related to economics and finance rather than science. Over the past century, economies globally have grown and can now support white-collar professions such as those in marketing, banking, investment, and finance. These occupations allow an individual to engage directly in earning a high salary without requiring the hard work or talent that is needed for intensive scientific jobs. It is therefore only natural that individuals will increasingly gravitate towards work that guarantees them the greatest possible rewards with the least possible effort.

However, this shift to more lucrative fields only moderately impacts the field of science. The reason for that is that there is still substantial demand for innovation in scientific fields being driven by both private and public interests. A strong example of this situation would be the worldwide response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid development of viable vaccines. The main areas where science is hurt by interest in other majors is at the fringes where the average worker is more likely to pursue a job at a bank or marketing firm rather than an engineering or manufacturing company. Although this has led to a decrease among certain segments of the population in their passion for scientific endeavors, there is still great work being done by professionals in a variety of fields.

In conclusion, it is a logical consequence of more developed economies that many students are now less likely to major in the sciences. However, the impact on society is largely imperceptible and compensated for in various ways.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

It has become increasingly less common in recent years for individuals to more and more people today do not

major in study, choose as your major

STEM-related subjects science subjects

this is the result of the growth of more business-oriented fields of study this is because there are more economic type jobs today

actual effects on society are marginal real impact on people

opt to choose to

related to economics and finance rather than science concerning money not biology, chemistry, etc.

Over the past century the last 100 years

economies globally have grown finances around the world have increased

support white-collar professions allow for more office jobs

marketing advertising

banking finance

investment putting money into things

finance economics

allow let

engage directly in earning a high salary the easiest way to making good money

requiring the hard work or talent needing diligence or ability

intensive scientific jobs hard jobs in science

It is therefore only natural it makes sense that

increasingly gravitate towards work more and more move to

guarantees secures

greatest possible rewards with the least possible effort best compensation without doing much work

shift to more lucrative fields only moderately impacts the field of science move to richer industries just a little affects scientific industries

substantial demand for innovation in scientific fields being driven by both private and public interests lots of need for new ideas coming from corporations and governments

worldwide response to the Covid-19 pandemic the global answer to Coronavirus

rapid development of viable vaccines faster making of medicines

hurt hinder

fringes outer edges of

the average worker individual person

pursue a job at a bank or marketing firm rather than an engineering or manufacturing company look for an occupation at a bank or advertising company instead of a science company

Although regardless of

led to a decrease among certain segments of the population in their passion for scientific endeavors caused fewer people in some demographics to pursue science

great work being done by professionals in a variety of fields good stuff done by people in many positions

it is a logical consequence of clear result of

developed economies countries with money

largely imperceptible mostly can’t be seen

compensated for in various ways resolved in different methods

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɪt hæz bɪˈkʌm ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli lɛs ˈkɒmən ɪn ˈriːsnt jɪəz fɔːr ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz tuː 
ˈmeɪʤər ɪn 
stɛm-rɪˈleɪtɪd ˈsʌbʤɪkts
ðɪs ɪz ðə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv ðə ɡrəʊθ ɒv mɔː ˈbɪznɪs-ˈɔːriəntɪd fiːldz ɒv ˈstʌdi 
ˈækʧʊəl ɪˈfɛkts ɒn səˈsaɪəti ɑː ˈmɑːʤɪnəl
ɒpt tuː 
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks ænd faɪˈnæns ˈrɑːðə ðæn ˈsaɪəns
ˈəʊvə ðə pɑːst ˈsɛnʧʊri
iˈkɒnəmiz ˈɡləʊbəli hæv ɡrəʊn 
səˈpɔːt ˈwaɪtˈkɒlə prəˈfɛʃᵊnz 
ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋˈbæŋkɪŋ
ɪnˈvɛstmənt 
faɪˈnæns
əˈlaʊ 
ɪnˈɡeɪʤ dɪˈrɛktli ɪn ˈɜːnɪŋ ə haɪ ˈsæləri 
rɪˈkwaɪərɪŋ ðə hɑːd wɜːk ɔː ˈtælənt 
ɪnˈtɛnsɪv ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ʤɒbz
ɪt ɪz ˈðeəfɔːr ˈəʊnli ˈnæʧrəl 
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈɡrævɪteɪt təˈwɔːdz wɜːk 
ˌɡærənˈtiːz 
ˈɡreɪtɪst ˈpɒsəbᵊl rɪˈwɔːdz wɪð ðə liːst ˈpɒsəbᵊl ˈɛfət
ʃɪft tuː mɔː ˈluːkrətɪv fiːldz ˈəʊnli ˈmɒdərɪtli ˈɪmpækts ðə fiːld ɒv ˈsaɪəns
səbˈstænʃəl dɪˈmɑːnd fɔːr ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃᵊn ɪn ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk fiːldz ˈbiːɪŋ ˈdrɪvn baɪ bəʊθ ˈpraɪvɪt ænd ˈpʌblɪk ˈɪntrɪsts
ˌwɜːldˈwaɪd rɪsˈpɒns tuː ðə ˈkəʊvɪdˈnaɪnˈtiːn pænˈdɛmɪk 
ˈræpɪd dɪˈvɛləpmənt ɒv ˈvaɪəbᵊl ˈvæksiːnz
hɜːt 
ˈfrɪnʤɪz 
ði ˈævərɪʤ ˈwɜːkə 
pəˈsjuː ə ʤɒb æt ə bæŋk ɔː ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ fɜːm ˈrɑːðə ðæn ən ˌɛnʤɪˈnɪərɪŋ ɔː ˌmænjʊˈfækʧərɪŋ ˈkʌmpəni
ɔːlˈðəʊ 
lɛd tuː ə ˈdiːkriːs əˈmʌŋ ˈsɜːtn ˈsɛɡmənts ɒv ðə ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃᵊn ɪn ðeə ˈpæʃᵊn fɔː ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ɪnˈdɛvəz 
ɡreɪt wɜːk ˈbiːɪŋ dʌn baɪ prəˈfɛʃənlz ɪn ə vəˈraɪəti ɒv fiːldz
ɪt ɪz ə ˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈkɒnsɪkwəns ɒv 
dɪˈvɛləpt iˈkɒnəmiz 
ˈlɑːʤli ˌɪmpəˈsɛptəbᵊl 
ˈkɒmpɛnseɪtɪd fɔːr ɪn ˈveərɪəs weɪz

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

I________________________________________________________________________________o m_________n S________________________s. In my opinion, t_____________________________________________________________________y though the a______________________________________l.

Greater numbers of young people now o_________o major in subjects r______________________________________________________________________e. O______________________y, e____________________________________n and can now s___________________________s such as those in m__________g, b_________g, i____________t, and f_________e. These occupations a______w an individual to e__________________________________y without r____________________________t that is needed for i__________________________s. I______________________________l that individuals will i_________________________________________k that g______________s them the g_______________________________________________t.

However, this s___________________________________________________________________e. The reason for that is that there is still s____________________________________________________________________________________s. A strong example of this situation would be the w______________________________________c and the r_____________________________s. The main areas where science is h____t by interest in other majors is at the f____________s where t_____________________r is more likely to p______________________________________________________________________________________________y. A_________h this has l_____________________________________________________________________________________________s, there is still g______________________________________________________________s.

In conclusion, i_____________________________________f more d________________________s that many students are now less likely to major in the sciences. However, the impact on society is l________________________e and c_______________________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/02/02/the-countries-with-the-most-stem-graduates-infographic/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Science

  1. Were you good at science when you were in school?
  2. What was your favorite scientific subject?
  3. How do you use science in your life now?
  4. Are science majors common in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

More and more students at university today are not choosing to study science.

Why is this happening?

What are the effects of this?

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