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)
Crime writings and on screen thriller plays are gaining more attention these days in many nations. The reasons behind these are the appreciation for thriller fictions stories and the content for awareness among the public. In my opinion, this rising attraction regarding these crime related stories is a bad sign which I am going to clear in my essay.
First reason behind this is the public admiration for thriller content. People like to watch good endings where devils being punished for doing wrong and the mystery that hooked the viewer till the ending. For instance, its a human psychology to look on the darker side of the people that lead them to commit crimes and they stick to ending of the films.
Another reason is that it is a source of awareness among the general public. Crime rates are rising in many communities and criminals are attacking innocents every other day and it should be addressed, otherwise
it will lead to a great loss. For example, rape cases are on news everyother day , women should be trained to handle these circumstances.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 182 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the essay addresses both parts of the prompt—the reasons for popularity and the writer's opinion—the arguments are underdeveloped. For instance, the point about 'awareness' is introduced but lacks a clear connection to why crime fiction specifically serves this purpose. The opinion section is also very brief and lacks depth or supporting evidence. To improve, you must expand on your points with specific examples and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a full exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'First reason behind this is' and 'Another reason is that' are functional but repetitive. The progression of ideas is clear, but the lack of length prevents a more sophisticated flow between sentences and paragraphs. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your sentences are connected more fluidly to create a cohesive argument throughout the entire piece.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'thriller fictions' and 'human psychology,' but there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'on screen thriller plays' and 'content for awareness.' Some word choices are imprecise, and there is a reliance on basic vocabulary. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology related to the topic of media and crime. Avoid repetitive phrasing and try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms to enhance the quality of your writing.
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. Examples include 'devils being punished' (should be 'criminals' or 'villains'), 'its a human psychology' (missing apostrophe and article usage), and 'everyother day' (spelling/spacing error). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focus on proofreading for basic errors such as punctuation, spelling, and subject-verb agreement to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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