Skip to content
IELTSbiz
All Task 2 topics
2 graded answers · band 5–6.5

Some students work while studying. This often results in lacking time for education and constantly feeling under pressure. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?

2 IELTSbiz learners have answered this Task 2 question and had it marked on the four official criteria; bands ranged from 5 to 6.5, with a median of Band 6. Compare the answers below to see exactly what the higher bands did differently.

Read this first

These are learner answers, not model answers — including the ones that scored well. Read them for what the criteria reward and punish, not as text to copy. A memorised essay attached to a slightly different question scores worse than an honest attempt, and examiners recognise recited material quickly.

  • Task Response6
  • Lexical Resource6
  • Grammatical Range & Accuracy6
  • Coherence & Cohesion7

It is becoming increasingly common that students work while studying and it may have negative impacts on their academic performance and mental health. The main reason of this problem are financial difficulties and poor time management. There are several effective ways to solve these problems. One of the main causes is financial pressure. Some families are unable to afford high tuition fees so their children need to work part-time jobs. In addition, students need to cover their daily living expenses, such as food, entertainment and transportation. For example, students from low-income families need to work for several hours a day, reducing their study time. As a result, they may struggle to complete their assignments and prepare for exams. Another reason is poor time management. Some students find that they cannot balance their jobs, academic responsibilities and personal lives, which make them feel stressed and tired. However, there are several ways to improve these issues. First, governments should offer more scholarships and financial assistance to reduce the economic pressure from low-income families. It can also encourage students to study harder. Moreover, employers could offer flexible working hours so that students can have more space to manage their time. For instance, during midterm or final exam, students could reduce their working hours and spend more time preparing the tests . In conclusion, some students have no choice but to study while working. However, governments and employers can help them maintain a better balance between their studies and health by providing financial assistance and flexible working arrangements.

Read the full answer and the examiner's feedback

Band 5 answer

300 words
  • Task Response5
  • Lexical Resource5
  • Grammatical Range & Accuracy5
  • Coherence & Cohesion5

Nowadays, the problem of students feeling stressed while they have less time for education is increasingly being observed. Although there are many factors contributing to this problem, one major cause stands out which is juggling work and school. Despite these challenges, various measures can be taken to mitigate this issue. Therefore, this essay will examine the key reason behind studying time less than before and increased pressure uninterruptedly, and suggest effective solutions. Firstly, the main reason for this problem is that students do not have enough financial support from their families. This is due to the unaffordable cost of daily consumption. For instance, there exists a high suicided rate of students in Korea. Despite their parents afford part of the tuition for their children, the high consuming quality forces Korean students to work and study at the same time. Instead of this, due to the intense competitiveness, individuals need to take good care of their studies. Consequently, this situation let the students feel under pressure and push them walk onto the way of suicide. To address this issue, one effective solution is giving discounts on student loans. This involves banks putting a lower rate and extending the loan term for students. A successful implementation of this is the policy of Taiwan’s banks, they give students low interest while they apply for student loans. Not only this, due to the free interest fee in the first 5 years, students do not have to worry about the increased cost of their payment. In conclusion, the main cause of students work while studying is the high cost of their tuition and daily expenses. Addressing this issue can be achieved through publishing student loans with lower interest. Ultimately, reducing students’ financial stress will lead to less work time, more flexibility for studying for students.

Read the full answer and the examiner's feedback

About this question

What band do answers to this IELTS question usually get?

Across 2 graded answers on IELTSbiz, bands ranged from 5 to 6.5, with a median of Band 6. Each was marked on Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.

What separates the Band 6.5 answer from the Band 5 answer?

The largest difference is Coherence & Cohesion: 7 in the Band 6.5 answer against 5 in the Band 5 answer. Open each answer to read the examiner's reason for every criterion.

Write your own answer to this question

    Need help?