Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-19

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 5.5)

It has been noticed in many countries as compare to past, people prefer to watch more criminal movies and reading novels. In this essay, I will discuss why today's generation is addicted to crime related movies and books before presenting my own opinion.

On the one hand, many film industries promote their movies where their main motive is action, which represents most of the crimes happening in scenes. For example, The Night Action movie, people are so eager to watch this and in every part of this movie they are supporting ruthless crimes which may put negative impact in existing and upcoming generation. As a result, many individuals stopped being kind to each other and may misbehave with their elders.

On the other hand, reading novels is a good habit and can improve cognitive skills in children. But reading novels and watching TV dramas related to crimes may lead to the loss of true potential and can impact their nervous system. For instance, many schools prefer their children to improve reading skills by suggesting good novels. Moreover, many children do not agree on advices and rather prefer action ones, which may cost them badly because they get used to it. Consequently, even the well-qualified adults develop addiction of crime novels and dramas only.

In my opinion, I believe that reading those novels and watch series which develops marked improvement and should help them in future by developing communication skills and confidence.

In conclusion, movies which shows heinous act and crimes may lead to destroy the mental health of individuals rather people should avoid watching this. Instead prefer to watch series which highly enhance their skills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, but the development of ideas is inconsistent. While you identify reasons for the popularity of crime fiction, the explanation is somewhat repetitive and lacks depth. The opinion section is particularly weak; the final paragraph is confusing and contradicts the earlier points, making your stance unclear. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a single, well-supported idea. For example, instead of just mentioning that crime movies are popular, explain the psychological appeal, such as the thrill of suspense or the exploration of human nature, and ensure your personal opinion is stated clearly and consistently throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression between ideas is often hindered by awkward phrasing and limited use of cohesive devices. While you use transition words like 'On the one hand' and 'In conclusion', the connections between sentences are sometimes mechanical or unclear. For instance, the transition from discussing the benefits of reading to the negative impacts of crime dramas is abrupt. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence flows naturally from the previous one, creating a more cohesive argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'good habit' and 'badly', and there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'addicted to crime related movies' and 'cost them badly'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'psychological thrill', 'societal impact', or 'narrative complexity'. Additionally, focus on using collocations correctly to ensure your writing sounds more natural and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'movies which shows'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'as compare to past'). While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors are persistent. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with verb tenses and pluralization. Practice constructing more complex sentences with correct punctuation to demonstrate better control over your writing.

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

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