IELTS Essay: Science

Sample Answer

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.