Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-09

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 6.5)

It is widely seen that novels and TV series based on crime are in high demand in many nations. The driving factor behind this trend is ability to create suspense which breaks monotony in lifestyle people are experiencing these days. I believe this genre of books and dramas give enthralling experiences to the consumers and help them escape from the reality of their lives.

The wonderful facet associated with this phenomenon is its ability to create suspense in the spectator's mind. Since it takes them away into another world, they feel themselves completely hooked in solving mysteries of the crime. This keeps them fully involved in those novels or shows. Additionally, it helps the readers or the viewers to apply their critical thinking and problem solving skills which helps their cognitive development.

Another contributing factor is that individuals these days are bored of their repetitive routines which has resulted in a monotonous lifestyle. In order to break the monotony of life, they look for something adventurous such as crime novels or crime shows which help get distracted from their boring routines. For instance, the iconic Indian TV show 'CID' was broadcast for ten years straight as it was very famous in Indian households because it engaged all kinds of audiences which felt as if they themselves were solving mysteries in the show.

In conclusion, while crime fiction content in novels or on TV dramas keeps the consumers deeply involved and sharpens their skills, it also gives them an opportunity to unwind and momentarily escape from their boring lives. In my opinion, this trend will continue in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the popularity of crime fiction and the writer's opinion. The ideas are relevant, focusing on suspense, cognitive stimulation, and escapism. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; the points about 'breaking monotony' and 'escaping reality' are essentially the same argument, which limits the depth of the analysis. To reach a higher band, the writer should provide more distinct, well-supported arguments rather than restating similar concepts. The position is clear throughout, and the inclusion of the example 'CID' helps ground the response in a real-world context, though it could be more effectively linked to the broader argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Another contributing factor', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the text. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be more sophisticated to better connect the psychological benefits of crime fiction with the desire to escape routine. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. The writer uses some effective collocations and topic-specific language, such as 'enthralling experiences', 'cognitive development', and 'monotonous lifestyle'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'spectator's mind' (usually 'viewer's mind' for TV) and 'get distracted from' (which is slightly awkward in this context). While the range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Incorporating more nuanced synonyms and idiomatic expressions would enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, and the grammar is generally controlled. However, there are some minor errors, such as missing articles ('the' ability, 'the' reality) and slightly awkward phrasing like 'It is widely seen that...'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, the writer should focus on article usage and refining complex sentence structures to ensure they are used with greater accuracy and naturalness.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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