Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-30

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

It is better to buy just a few expensive clothes, rather than lots of cheaper clothes.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

It is argued that people should purchase a few exorbitant clothes instead of many affordable ones. I completely agree with the phenomenon because its durability and appear exclusive.

To begin with, banded clothes have long life. In other words, such clothes are made with good fabric, which is never faded and looks new after several washes. This is considered as a significant investment of money, especially for those who are not a shopaholic person. For example, most many people preferred to spend their expenditures on quality over quantity of the product, Which allowed them to save money. Therefore, it is better to have good and expensive clothes because they are long-lasting.

Another reason why I support this trend is that their appearance. When people go out after wearing attractive and branded clothes th

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 133 words. Because the essay is significantly under-length and ends abruptly mid-sentence, the ideas are severely underdeveloped. While you clearly state your position in the introduction, the supporting arguments lack the necessary depth and examples required for a full task response. To improve, you must expand on your points with more detailed explanations and ensure you complete the essay structure with a conclusion. Currently, the response is too brief to fully address the prompt, which limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay shows some basic logical organization with the use of transition signals like 'To begin with' and 'Another reason'. However, the abrupt ending of the text significantly impacts the overall coherence. Paragraphing is attempted, but the development within those paragraphs is cut short. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, and the flow is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the final sentence. To achieve a higher score, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a concluding thought, and avoid leaving sentences unfinished.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a basic range of vocabulary, but there are several issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'exorbitant clothes' is not a natural collocation; 'high-end' or 'premium' would be more appropriate. 'Banded clothes' is likely a misuse of 'branded'. Additionally, 'appear exclusive' is grammatically incorrect in this context. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary, the errors in word choice and the limited range prevent a higher score. Focus on learning common collocations related to consumer habits and fashion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'its durability and appear exclusive' (should be 'their durability and exclusive appearance') and 'most many people preferred' (redundant). There are also issues with article usage and sentence structure, such as 'This is considered as a significant investment'. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of adjectives and nouns. The incomplete final sentence also demonstrates a lack of control over sentence structure.

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