Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-05

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 4.0)

Nowadays, the demand of books and TV shows related to crime is highly increasing in many nations. These novels and TV dramas are famous because reading crime books and watching crime series can raise public awareness about criminal activities. In my view, these dramas can leave positive and negative impacts on the society.

The main reason behind the popularity of crime related is that individuals can increase their about

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify a relevant reason for the popularity of crime fiction—raising “public awareness about criminal activities”—and give a clear initial view that these programmes can have both “positive and negative impacts.” However, the response stops before explaining either side of that opinion or developing the reason for popularity. The second paragraph begins, “individuals can increase their about,” but the thought is unfinished, so the reader cannot understand the intended point. As a result, the task is addressed only minimally: neither question receives a developed answer, and there are no supporting examples. The response also falls substantially short of the required 250 words. To improve, explain several reasons for the genre’s appeal, state your view more precisely, and support each main idea with an example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: the opening paragraph introduces the topic and your opinion, while “The main reason” signals a move towards an explanation. This gives the reader a simple starting structure. However, the second paragraph ends mid-sentence, so there is no completed progression from the stated reason to an explanation or example. The relationship between the popularity claim and your positive-and-negative view is also not developed, and the response has no concluding paragraph to bring the ideas together. Because the text is so brief, cohesion is limited and the paragraphing cannot support a full argument. Complete each paragraph around one clear point, use linking phrases to show cause and contrast, and finish with a concise conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “crime novels,” “TV dramas,” “criminal activities,” and “public awareness,” so the subject is generally clear. There is also an attempt at more formal phrasing in “In my view.” However, several expressions are inaccurate or awkward, such as “the demand of books,” “highly increasing,” and “crime related” without a noun. The unfinished phrase “increase their about” further prevents the intended meaning from being conveyed. The vocabulary range is therefore limited in this short response, and collocation control is inconsistent. Aim for natural combinations such as “demand for crime fiction is rising” and “crime-related programmes,” and use precise words to explain the appeal, for example suspense, investigation, or solving a mystery.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You produce some complete, understandable sentences, including “These novels and TV dramas are famous because…” and “In my view, these dramas can leave…,” with a basic use of a subordinate clause and a modal verb. This shows some control of simple sentence patterns. However, the range is narrow, and the final sentence is incomplete: “individuals can increase their about” has no finished object or idea. There are also grammatical problems in “the demand of books” and “on the society,” where the prepositions and article pattern are not controlled. The response does not yet show sustained accuracy across a developed set of sentences. Practise completing clauses and combining ideas with accurate cause-and-effect and contrast structures, then check articles and prepositions during revision.

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