Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-09
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)
Shopping is one of the most interesting thing we do especially clothes, and I agree that the expensive clothes better than the cheaper one. In the next paragraphs I will shed some light on this view.
One of the reasons that I prefer the expensive clothes brands is the good quality of the fabric and excellent finishing of item for example I bought a dress from a very famous shop last month although it was expensive but I noticed that the size was exactly fit with a global standard quality also the color was fixed that you do not destroy it when you wash it just you need to follow the instructions.
On the another hand, most of the expensive clothes use a healthy fabric and materials like cotton and silk for instance the babies clothes that take care of their skin. In addition, it is up to date with new fashion in the world and there are limited pieces of the item which some people prefer to wear something unique.
In conclusion, I think the valuable clothes have a high features, rather than cheaper clothes while you can afford the money and you will shine as a star.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 199 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the arguments remain superficial and lack sufficient depth or supporting detail. While you clearly state your position in the introduction, the supporting points regarding fabric quality and fashion trends are underdeveloped. To improve, you must expand your arguments with more detailed explanations and specific examples to fully address the prompt. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not effectively summarize the main points. Increasing the length will allow you to provide the necessary depth required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You use basic cohesive devices like 'One of the reasons' and 'On the another hand', but the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between the dress example and the 'global standard quality' is slightly confusing. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that transitions smoothly into the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'expensive clothes' and 'cheaper clothes'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'color was fixed' (should be 'colorfast') and 'have a high features' (should be 'have high-quality features'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to consumerism and fashion, and pay closer attention to collocations to ensure your writing sounds more natural and precise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'one of the most interesting thing' (should be 'things'), 'the expensive clothes better than' (missing verb 'are'), and 'the babies clothes' (should be 'baby clothes'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences that lack proper clause separation. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately with appropriate punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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