Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-13
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)
Nowadays, people have different opinions about buying clothes. Some individuals believe that it is better to buy a few expensive and good - quality clothes, while other prefer to purchase many cheaper clothes. I agree that buying a few good quality clothes is a better choice because they last longer and can save money in the long term.
On the hand, expensive clothes usually have better quality and last longer. However, they high - priced clothes giving the good material compared to cheap clothes. Whereas, costly clothes also giving the more durable to the public. While, the expensive clothes do not get damaged quickly and this clothes also save the money for long - term. For instances, a good -quality jacket can be used for several years, while a cheap jacket may need to be replaced quickly.
On the other hand, buying affordable clothes has some advantages. First, low - cost clothes are suitable for individuals who have a limited budget, especially students. Moreover, they can buy different types styles and outfits without spending too much money. Second, the public can change their clothes more frequently and follow new fashion trends. Furthermore, cheaper clothes are often made from lower - quality materials and may not last for a long - term.
In conclusion, although affordable clothes are useful for people with a limited budget and provide more variety, i feeling that buying a few good - quality clothes is a better choice because they are more durable and can save money in the long term.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. The introduction and conclusion clearly state your agreement with the prompt. The body paragraphs provide relevant reasons for both sides of the argument, such as durability and cost-effectiveness versus variety and budget constraints. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the first body paragraph where the point about quality is restated multiple times without adding new depth. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is distinct and fully explored with specific examples or logical consequences rather than just restating the main premise.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'First', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' to link your points. However, some transitions are used incorrectly or awkwardly, such as 'On the hand' (missing 'other') and the use of 'Whereas' and 'While' as sentence starters, which creates a fragmented flow. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'this clothes' which should be 'these clothes'. Improving the precision of your linking words will help the essay flow more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'durable', 'fashion trends', and 'limited budget'. However, there is a lack of variety and some noticeable errors in word choice and collocation. For example, you write 'they high-priced clothes giving the good material', which is grammatically and lexically awkward. You also repeat the phrase 'good-quality' and 'cheaper clothes' frequently. To improve, try to incorporate more synonyms and collocations, such as 'investment pieces', 'fast fashion', or 'cost-effective', and pay closer attention to word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's flow. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'other prefer' instead of 'others prefer'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'costly clothes also giving' instead of 'costly clothes also give'), and misuse of articles and plurals (e.g., 'this clothes' instead of 'these clothes'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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