Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-11

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 6.5)

In the modern era, the popularity of crime novels and TV crime shows is rising day by day in various nations around the globe. The main reason why an increasing number of people are interested in the specific genre is because the whole story can never be predicted. Additionally, in my opinion, they are much better in comparison to romantic or comedy series or novels.

To begin with, the primary reason for the popularity of this trend is due to the abilities of the writers and directors to deliver the story to the audience which makes consumers addicted to the plot till the ending. This is because it includes many twists and turns; owing to this, the next part of a book or the drama can never be guessed appropriately. Therefore, it is worthwhile to watch or read something which always has the mind guessing regarding the ending. For instance, in a crime drama people watch the whole movie just to find out who the killer is.

Furthermore, from my perspective, I am an enthusiast of crime thriller movies. Because it provides a person with adrenaline rush which releases a hormone that makes the people even more interested in such an area. Each scenario is carefully depicted which builds the curiosity of the people. However, for the other novels such as romantic or comedy, the majority of the time the plot is almost similar. As a result, people often lose interest in specific topics. If two or three romantic books will have the same ending with only little difference in the narrative, it will influence people to stop reading or watching such shows.

In conclusion, although there are many areas in which people might be interested, the acceptance of the crime genre cannot be replaced in any of the countries because of the different plot in all the books and shows.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

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, particularly the focus on unpredictability and the 'adrenaline rush'. However, the development is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument that other genres like romance are 'almost similar' is a broad generalization that lacks depth. To reach a higher band, you should provide more nuanced examples or explore the psychological appeal of crime fiction in greater detail. The position is clear throughout, but the supporting arguments could be more thoroughly extended to demonstrate a deeper engagement with the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the reasons for popularity from your personal opinion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there is occasional repetition of phrasing (e.g., 'people' is used frequently as a subject). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'enthusiast', 'adrenaline rush', and 'narrative'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'acceptance of the crime genre cannot be replaced' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'mind guessing regarding the ending'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more idiomatic collocations and precise academic vocabulary rather than relying on general terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips. For example, 'the primary reason... is due to the abilities' is redundant; 'is because' would be more direct. There are also minor errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'the adrenaline rush' (should be 'an adrenaline rush') and 'for the other novels' (should be 'for other novels'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for small errors in articles and prepositions.

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

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