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 experiencing a global surge. The main reason why an increasing number of people are drawn to this compelling 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. To explain, 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 predictable. As a result, people often lose interest in specific topics. If two or three romantic books 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 entertainment areas in which people might be interested, the profound global appeal of the crime genre remains irreplaceable in any of the countries because of the different plots 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, such as the unpredictability of plots and the adrenaline rush provided by thrillers. However, the development is somewhat repetitive. For instance, the argument about 'predictability' is mentioned in both the second and third paragraphs. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the psychological or societal reasons for this popularity rather than focusing solely on the plot structure. The position is clear throughout, but the depth of analysis could be improved by providing more specific examples of why these genres are preferred over others.

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 the 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 the referencing could be more precise. For example, the phrase 'in such an area' in the third paragraph is a bit vague. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the essay maintains a consistent focus on the topic throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'global surge,' 'compelling genre,' and 'adrenaline rush.' There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the next part of a book... can never be guessed appropriately' (where 'accurately' or 'correctly' would be more natural) and 'entertainment areas' (where 'genres' or 'forms of entertainment' would be better). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precise collocation required for a higher band score. Expanding your range of topic-specific collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are error-free, there are occasional grammatical slips, such as 'the main reason... is because' (a common redundancy; 'is that' is preferred) and 'it provides a person with adrenaline rush' (missing an article: 'an adrenaline rush'). Additionally, 'the next part of a book or the drama can never be guessed' is slightly awkward. Despite these minor errors, your control of grammar is generally good, and the meaning is never obscured. To improve, focus on article usage and avoiding redundant phrasing in complex sentences.

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

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