Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-21

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 6.0)

In the majority of countries, novels and TV dramas related to crime are gaining more audiences in recent years. There are some reasons for this trend. From my perspective, I see this as a negative trend. This essay will discuss the reasons and support my opinion.

The major reason why crime TV shows and novels have gained popularity in many countries recently is because people find that crime shows and novels have unexpected twists that keep the audience engaged. Additionally, people are curious about crimes. They want to know how a crime is committed and how criminals are caught. Streaming platforms like Netflix always influence people by advertising the posters and trailers of crime movies to attract audiences. All these factors have contributed to gaining more audiences for crime shows and dramas in recent years.

It is widely believed that the increasing number of people showing interest in crime shows is a negative development. This is due to the fact that crime movies can motivate people to become involved in criminal activities, and people may imitate the criminal behavior shown in the media. Excessive crime content may make people believe that society is more dangerous than it actually is. Furthermore, watching long crime series can become addictive and reduce the time available for other productive activities. This can also have negative effects on the body, such as obesity and eye strain.

To sum up, crime TV shows and dramas may have unexpected twists and mysteries that keep the audience engaged. I believe that these shows and dramas may encourage people to move towards a negative path and create unnecessary illusions in people's minds.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing reasons for the popularity of crime fiction and clearly stating a negative opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of 'unexpected twists' and the concern about 'imitation of criminal behavior'. However, the development is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument that these shows lead to obesity is a bit tangential and could have been better linked to the core topic of crime fiction's impact on society. To reach a higher band, the arguments could be extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis of why these shows are perceived as negative.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'To sum up', which help the flow of ideas. However, the transition between some sentences is slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more varied. The progression of ideas is clear, but the essay would benefit from a more sophisticated use of linking words to connect the arguments more fluidly rather than relying on standard list-like transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use some appropriate terms like 'streaming platforms', 'criminal activities', and 'unexpected twists'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. For example, the phrase 'crime shows and novels' is repeated several times. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms or collocations related to media consumption and psychological impact. The current range is sufficient to convey your meaning, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For instance, 'There are some reasons for this trend' is a simple but correct structure. You also use complex sentences like 'This is due to the fact that crime movies can motivate people to become involved in criminal activities'. While the grammar is generally reliable, there is a lack of a wide range of complex structures, such as inversion or advanced conditional forms, which would be necessary for a higher band score.

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

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