Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-15

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 novels and TV crime dramas has become a subject of considerable debate in contemporary society. I believe that crime stories remove boringness of life.I think it is personal choice and everyone have right to watch whatever they like. This essay will examine the principal reasons for this position and consider its wider implications.

One significant reason is that crime novels and TV crime can play a pivotal role in shaping individuals' lives and entertainment. This is largely because it can encourage people to step beyond their familiar surroundings and respond to circumstances that require greater independence. As a result, they may become more adaptable, self-reliant and resilient when confronted with unexpected challenges. For instance, an individual placed in an unfamiliar situation may have to make important decisions independently, overcome practical difficulties and adjust to new circumstances. Such experiences can broaden their horizons and equip them with skills that remain valuable in the long term.

Another compelling argument relates to the broader social ramifications of crime novels and TV crime dramas. More specifically, it can bring individuals into contact with diverse perspectives, values and ways of life, thereby encouraging a deeper understanding of society. This is particularly significant because direct interaction can challenge preconceived notions and encourage people to reconsider assumptions that they may have previously taken for granted. For example, individuals who regularly interact with people from different backgrounds may gradually develop a more nuanced understanding of cultural and social differences. In the long run, this can foster mutual respect, social cohesion and a greater sense of inclusivity.

In conclusion, while there are credible arguments concerning crime novels and TV crime dramas I believe that crime novels and TV crime dramas improve individuals' lives. Ultimately, the issue should be assessed not only in terms of its immediate consequences but also with regard to its longer-term implications for individuals and society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student addresses both parts of the prompt, identifying potential reasons for the popularity of crime fiction and offering a personal opinion. However, the development of ideas diverges significantly into irrelevant arguments. Specifically, the second and third body paragraphs discuss how crime novels and TV shows encourage people to step beyond their familiar surroundings, become independent, and interact with diverse perspectives. This does not logically explain the popularity of crime novels or TV dramas, nor is it a plausible outcome of consuming such media. Consequently, the response suffers from a lack of genuine task focus and over-generalised logic. It aligns best with Band 5, where ideas are limited, under-developed, and the position is not consistently well-supported by relevant reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion, showing an attempt at logical structure. However, progression is weak because the body paragraphs rely on flawed conceptual links that do not follow from the topic of crime fiction. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'One significant reason is' and 'Another compelling argument relates to', but referencing is problematic; for instance, switching between 'crime novels and TV crime' and the pronoun 'it' creates ambiguity. Paragraphing is present, but overall progression lacks clarity due to the disconnected arguments. This corresponds to Band 5, which features some organisation and use of cohesive devices, but lacks clear overall progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully incorporating phrases such as 'contemporary society', 'principal reasons', 'social ramifications', and 'preconceived notions'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'remove boringness of life' instead of 'relieve boredom', and omitting the noun in 'TV crime' instead of 'TV crime dramas'. While less common vocabulary is attempted, errors in word choice and collocation are apparent and occasionally cause confusion for the reader. This performance sits comfortably within Band 6, featuring an adequate range that permits communication despite some limitations and inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses such as 'while there are credible arguments concerning crime novels'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding subject-verb agreement ('Crime novels and TV crime dramas has become', 'everyone have right') and missing articles or incomplete noun phrases ('TV crime' instead of 'TV crime dramas'). Punctuation errors are also present, notably a missing space and punctuation slip ('life.I think'). Although these errors do not completely impede communication, their frequency prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. This is indicative of Band 5, where a limited range of structures is used and frequent errors persist.

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

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