Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-31
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)
Nowadays,Thriller Shows and Crime Series are becoming more popular and people like to watch it. Some people believe that this is more exciting than others shows while others think that this is not good for mental health.i will explain my point view and discuss it with relevant examples.
on the first hand,Crime novels and thriller shows are becoming more popular because people likes mysteries and they become more desperate to know that what will be happens next.for example, crime fiction and stories makes people more curious that how investigations work to solve mysteries and also make more suspenseful for viewers.
on the other hand, criminal shows and series are not only enjoyable although it can increase crime and develop critical thinking.to illustrate this view, thriller shows attract persons for doing crime and make unsafe society. for instance, recently in Uttarpradesh, 17 years old youngster murdered a girl by watching a crime TV series.So, this kind of show encourages people to do crime.
on my perspective,Thriller shows are not wrong for society because it is only attract people and Excessive exposure may make some people feel unsafe or believe crime is more common than it actually is
in conclusion , both has their own pros and cons but my argument proves that mysterious series may attract people to increase crime and also it’s unsafe for society which can develop psychological impacts. For public awareness, This kind of shows should be banned or should take strict action against it.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt, but the development is inconsistent. While you provide reasons for the popularity of crime fiction, your opinion is somewhat contradictory; you state that these shows are 'not wrong' but then conclude they should be 'banned'. The essay is also slightly under the 250-word minimum, which impacts the depth of your arguments. To improve, ensure your position is consistent throughout the essay and provide more detailed explanations for your claims to fully meet the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'on the first hand' (which should be 'on the one hand') and 'on my perspective'. Additionally, the transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that flows logically into the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good', 'bad', and 'unsafe'. There are also some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'criminal shows' instead of 'crime dramas' and 'attract persons for doing crime'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to media, psychology, and societal impact, and pay closer attention to how words are typically paired together in English.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('stories makes', 'people likes'), incorrect verb forms ('what will be happens'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several instances of missing spaces after commas and periods. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy and proofreading for these small errors will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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