Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-17

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 7.0)

In recent years, the growing popularity of crime novels and television crime dramas has attracted considerable attention. Although people hold different views on this issue, I believe that these forms of entertainment are popular because they create excitement and curiosity, and I believe they can be enjoyable and thought-provoking when presented responsibly. This essay will examine the main aspects of this issue.

To begin with, crime stories attract large audiences because suspense and unexpected events keep people interested and encourage them to discover how a mystery will be solved. This can have a considerable impact on people's everyday lives. For example, viewers may continue watching a crime series because each episode reveals new evidence while leaving important questions unanswered. This demonstrates the practical importance of this point.

Furthermore, crime fiction can be valuable entertainment because it encourages audiences to think critically about motives, evidence and the consequences of criminal behaviour. Its effects can also extend beyond individuals and influence the wider community. For instance, readers of a detective novel may analyse different clues and suspects before the solution is finally revealed. This illustrates why this aspect deserves attention.

However, it should also be recognised that excessive or unrealistic portrayals of violence can be disturbing and may create misleading impressions about the frequency of serious crime. This perspective should not be overlooked when considering the issue as a whole.

In conclusion, I believe that these forms of entertainment are popular because they create excitement and curiosity, and I believe they can be enjoyable and thought-provoking when presented responsibly. This is mainly because suspense keeps audiences interested and crime stories can encourage critical thinking. Overall, these factors should be considered together when evaluating this issue.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student addresses all parts of the task by explaining why crime fiction and TV dramas are popular and providing a clear personal opinion. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. The reasons given, such as suspense and critical thinking, are relevant and extended. For instance, the point about suspense keeping audiences interested is well supported by the example of viewers watching a series to discover new evidence. However, some of the development relies on slightly repetitive explanatory sentences like 'This demonstrates the practical importance of this point,' rather than adding completely new substantive ideas. Despite this slight tendency towards formulaic phrasing, the task is covered well, fully satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each body paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with logical transition markers such as 'To begin with' and 'Furthermore.' Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas about popularity, critical thinking benefits, and potential drawbacks. Cohesive devices are used effectively, though some transitional sentences are slightly formulaic or mechanical, such as 'This illustrates why this aspect deserves attention.' Referencing throughout the text is clear, and the overall progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion flows smoothly, easily meeting the criteria for Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow flexibility and precision, such as 'considerable impact,' 'critical behaviour,' and 'unrealistic portrayals.' There is an attempt to use less common items and subject-specific vocabulary like 'motives,' 'evidence,' and 'suspects.' However, the vocabulary tends to be somewhat functional and repetitive rather than truly wide-ranging or sophisticated. Phrases like 'This can have a considerable impact' and 'This demonstrates the practical importance' are reused in similar patterns. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, with no errors that impede communication, placing the response solidly within Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The writer successfully uses subordinate clauses and complex forms, as seen in sentences like 'Although people hold different views on this issue, I believe that these forms of entertainment are popular because they create excitement and curiosity.' There is good control of grammar and punctuation, and frequent error-free sentences appear throughout the response. While there are a few minor instances of repetitive syntactic patterns, grammar errors are virtually absent and communication is never impeded. This strong control of accuracy alongside a variety of structures merits a Band 7.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.