Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries today, crime novels and TV crime dramas are becoming more and more popular. Why do you think these books and TV shows are popular? What is your opinion of crime fiction and TV crime dramas?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 7.5)

In many countries, crime novels and television crime dramas have become increasingly popular. There are several reasons for this trend, including people’s curiosity about criminal behaviour and their desire for entertainment. In my opinion, crime fiction can be enjoyable and educational, although it should not be considered realistic.

One major reason for the popularity of crime stories is that they create suspense and keep people interested. Readers and viewers often want to discover who committed the crime, why it happened, and how the police will solve the case. This makes crime stories more exciting than many other forms of entertainment. In addition, people are naturally curious about unusual and mysterious situations. For example, a television series about a murder investigation may include several suspects and unexpected clues, encouraging viewers to continue watching until the end.

Another reason is that crime dramas allow people to understand how criminals think and how investigators solve difficult cases. Many people find police investigations, forensic science and detective work fascinating. These programmes can also raise awareness of serious social issues, such as violence, theft and corruption. For instance, some dramas show how evidence, such as fingerprints, photographs or video recordings, can help investigators identify a criminal.

Personally, I enjoy crime fiction and television crime dramas because they are entertaining and mentally stimulating. They encourage viewers to think carefully about the evidence and predict the ending. However, some programmes exaggerate violence simply to attract more viewers, so people should remember that these stories are mainly created for entertainment.

In conclusion, crime novels and TV crime dramas are popular because they provide suspense, satisfy curiosity and offer interesting insights into investigations. I believe they are a positive form of entertainment when enjoyed in moderation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You clearly identify reasons for the popularity of crime fiction, such as the appeal of suspense and the fascination with investigative processes. Your personal opinion is stated clearly in the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of forensic science and the psychological engagement of the audience. To reach a higher band, you could further explore the 'why' behind the societal fascination with crime, perhaps touching on the cathartic nature of these stories or the human tendency to seek order in chaos, which would add more depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'For instance', and 'However', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the reasons for popularity and your personal opinion is seamless. The structure is coherent throughout, and the use of referencing is accurate, ensuring that the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'mentally stimulating', 'forensic science', and 'social issues' are used appropriately. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations related to the genre, such as 'gripping narratives', 'the intricacies of criminal psychology', or 'the moral ambiguity of the protagonist'. The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choices consistently convey your intended meaning without ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your writing displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses in 'Although it should not be considered realistic' and 'Many people find police investigations... fascinating'. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is strong. You use a mix of simple and complex forms effectively to maintain interest. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To push into the higher bands, ensure you vary your sentence beginnings even more and experiment with more advanced structures like inversion or conditional forms to demonstrate full flexibility.

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