Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-09

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)

These days, the popularity of books and TV shows related to criminal activities are becoming extremely popular. I believe sometimes these sources share real-life stories to raise awareness among people; however, these shows and novels can be the reason for violence and creating suspension. In the era of media, crime TV dramas and novels are preferred by several individuals because these sites help people to become aware of criminal activities. These stories explain the whole situation with all the small details of how a crime happened and the conditions that forced a person to become a criminal. Moreover, a person can detect the situation if it is happening in their surroundings. As a result, by observing the whole situation, a person could be able to prevent the crime. In this way, many lives can be saved from danger. However, these criminal sources can raise violent behavior in a person. Watching and reading can enhance critical thinking, such as in attempted murder cases. In TV serials and books, it is often suggested that the idea of committing a violent act enters a person's mind through scenes that mirror or worsen their own life. Furthermore, a feeling of fear and suspense can come into the minds of many people if they feel that they are surrounded by a world that is full of crime. In conclusion, in my opinion, whether the media is creating these sources to raise awareness and protect the common people, its negative effects can not be ignored due to violence and fear.

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 personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the educational value of understanding criminal motives and the potential for increased fear. However, the development is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding how these shows 'prevent crime' is a bit simplistic and lacks concrete examples or deeper analysis. The position is clear throughout, but the essay would benefit from more nuanced exploration of why these genres are specifically 'popular' beyond just awareness, such as the psychological thrill or the 'whodunit' appeal.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moreover', 'As a result', and 'However', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the link between 'critical thinking' and 'attempted murder cases' is somewhat abrupt and unclear. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the central ideas are generally easy to follow, though the progression of arguments could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'suspension' (likely intended as 'suspense') and 'criminal sources'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor collocation errors. For example, 'creating suspension' is incorrect; 'generating suspense' would be more accurate. Additionally, the phrase 'criminal sources' is slightly unnatural in this context. The range is sufficient to communicate the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the popularity... are becoming') and awkward phrasing ('a person could be able to'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels repetitive. To improve, the writer should focus on refining complex sentence structures and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement throughout the text.

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