Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-23

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)

It is broadly true that internationally, crime related novels, movies and T.V. shows are preferred over other genres. This is mainly because they are more intense and there are only limited outdoor activities. I believe, crime fiction and dramas have to be censored to a certain extent for viewer's discretion. This essay will discuss why these forms of entertainment are more interesting, and explain my opinion.

It is a bitter truth that after COVID-19 lockdown, the outdoor activities are no longer trending. So, the writers and film directors introduced thriller and suspenseful novels, movies and shows on O.T.T. platforms. These books and dramas would make the readers and watchers more curious. Which, in turn, promoted a higher demand of the same. In the same era, crime related games saw a rise in demand as well. Additionally, ever since the online streaming platforms have become widely available, everyone can easily access everything they want. For example, Amazon Kindle for voracious readers, Netflix for movie lovers and PlayStation for gamers and so on.

In my opinion, there should be a censorship on certain books, movies and games. Provided that the crime related movies are not controlled, they can easily influence teenagers with criminal thoughts. From novels to games, everything they read, watch or play could be related to murders and can be full of gore. All of this can change the way the children think. A clear example of this is that, the moment the parents try to control the source of entertainment, their children become loud and violent.

In conclusion, while is inevitable that crime genre is trending all over the world, the government should impose some censorship for specific age-group targeted audience such as young adults. While this may be true that people love suspenseful murder mysteries in form of novels, movies or games, if the content is gruesome, it can negatively impact the way children think and react.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the popularity of crime fiction and the writer's opinion on the genre. The ideas are relevant, such as the impact of streaming platforms and the potential influence on children. However, the development is somewhat limited. The explanation regarding why these shows are 'more interesting' is a bit superficial, relying on general statements about curiosity rather than exploring the psychological appeal of suspense. The position on censorship is clear, but the argument could be strengthened by providing more nuanced examples or counter-arguments. Overall, the task is addressed, but the depth of analysis is consistent with a mid-range band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. There is a progression of ideas from the reasons for popularity to the writer's opinion on censorship. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Additionally,' 'In conclusion,' and 'For example,' though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, although the connection between the rise of OTT platforms and the specific popularity of crime genres could be more explicitly linked to ensure a smoother flow of logic. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task. The writer uses some topic-specific terms like 'OTT platforms,' 'voracious readers,' and 'gruesome.' However, there is a reliance on somewhat repetitive or simplistic phrasing, such as 'crime related' and 'more and more popular.' There are also minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'there should be a censorship' (should be 'censorship' without the article) and 'in form of' (should be 'in the form of'). While the range is sufficient to convey meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the outdoor activities are no longer trending' (unnecessary article), 'promoted a higher demand of the same' (awkward phrasing), and 'while is inevitable' (missing subject 'it'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some awkward comma placements. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. The writer shows an attempt at complex structures, but control over these is inconsistent.

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

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