Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07

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 5.0)

There is no gain saying fact that expensive outfit is considered as a status symbol in the world and where people prefer quality over quantity and buying few branded clothes is better than buying larger number of affordable clothes. I am totaly disagree with the given notion which i will elaborate in upcoming paragraphes.

Firstly, Buying expensive clothes is a living standards for some people but majority number of people in this world earns daily for their family to feed them bread for the survival and buying branded clothes is not a option in their list. To illustrate, large number of people in this world runs daily or commute by public transport to fulfill their basic needs and buying expensive clothes and use them on their daily basis did not allow by their pockets.

Secondly, the manufacturers of big branded clothes use different kind of material to make their product more attractive which will help them to boost their product demand in the market as well as goodwill of the firm too. To examplefy, the big brands use various animals skin for their products such as jacket, shoes and to fulfill their demand their demand the animal species is in danger such as tiger and crocodiles

to conclude buying expensive clothes is a waste of money living simple and better life is best for everyoneand for ecnomy too

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you state your position clearly in the introduction, the arguments are under-developed. The first body paragraph discusses financial constraints, which is relevant, but the second paragraph shifts focus to animal rights, which is only tangentially related to the prompt about the value of expensive versus cheap clothing. Because the response is under-length and the arguments lack sufficient depth and focus, it does not fully address all parts of the task. To improve, ensure you expand on your reasoning with more specific examples and ensure all points directly support your stance on the clothing debate.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay has a basic structure with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly', the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical or unclear. Paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is run-on and lacks proper punctuation, which hinders the flow of the argument. To improve, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph contains a clear topic sentence followed by supporting details that logically connect to the main argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. You rely on basic phrases such as 'expensive clothes' and 'branded clothes' throughout the text. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'no gain saying fact' (a non-standard idiom) and 'to examplefy' (which is not a standard English word). Some phrasing is awkward, such as 'living standards for some people'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a more varied range of vocabulary, including less common lexical items and more precise collocations related to consumerism and fashion, while ensuring correct spelling and usage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('majority number of people... earns'), article usage ('not a option'), and sentence structure ('did not allow by their pockets'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the conclusion where multiple ideas are joined without proper stops. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and using correct punctuation to separate distinct thoughts. Proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb forms is essential.

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

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