Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-01

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 7.5)

Nowadays, crime novels and television crime dramas are becoming increasingly popular in many countries. There are several reasons for this trend, and I believe that crime fiction can be both entertaining and beneficial when it is presented responsibly.

One main reason for the popularity of crime stories is that they create excitement and suspense. People enjoy trying to solve a mystery before the characters discover the truth. For example, viewers may try to identify the criminal by paying attention to small clues throughout a television series. Crime dramas can also provide an escape from everyday life because they contain unexpected events, investigations and surprising endings. Furthermore, modern streaming services have made crime programmes much easier to access, allowing people to watch entire series whenever they have free time.

In my opinion, crime fiction and television dramas are generally positive forms of entertainment. They can improve people’s ability to think logically and pay attention to details. Some programmes also show how police investigations work and explain the consequences of criminal behaviour. However, I believe that people should remember that these programmes are mainly made for entertainment. Some stories may exaggerate violence or present unrealistic situations, which could give viewers an inaccurate understanding of real crime.

For example, when I watch a crime series, I enjoy trying to predict what will happen next and discussing the possible identity of the criminal. This makes the programme more interesting than simply watching a story with an obvious ending.

In conclusion, crime novels and TV dramas are popular mainly because they provide suspense, mystery and entertainment. I consider them a good form of entertainment as long as viewers understand the difference between fictional stories and real-life crime.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by exploring both the reasons for the popularity of crime fiction and providing a clear personal opinion. The writer maintains a well-developed position throughout the essay. Reasons for popularity are well supported with logical extensions, such as the appeal of solving mysteries and the convenience of streaming services. The personal opinion is clearly articulated in the third paragraph and reinforced by a relevant personal example in the fourth paragraph. To achieve a higher level, the ideas could be extended with even more depth or nuanced analysis regarding societal trends, but overall, all parts of the prompt are covered thoroughly and appropriately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with an introduction, followed by reasons for popularity, the writer's personal opinion, a supporting personal example, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately, such as 'Furthermore', 'In my opinion', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is managed effectively, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the flow of ideas from one point to the next. Referencing throughout the text is clear and precise, contributing to a seamless and coherent reading experience.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, successfully using less common items such as 'suspense', 'investigations', 'consequences', and 'inaccurate understanding'. Word choice and collocations are generally natural and accurate. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To reach an even higher band, the writer could incorporate a wider variety of sophisticated or idiomatic expressions, but the current lexical resource is well-suited for the task, conveying ideas clearly and with appropriate academic style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response features a wide range of both simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating excellent control. Complex sentences, such as 'Although... / when... / because...' clauses, are constructed accurately, and the vast majority of sentences are completely error-free. There is strong control over verb forms, tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, and punctuation throughout the text. Only very occasional, minor slips might be found, but the overall grammatical execution is polished and precise, reflecting a high level of language mastery.

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