Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

It has been observed that investing in limited number of branded clothes is a great option, in contrast of buying huge quantities of inexpensive clothes. I completely agree with this notion as quality always supersedes quantity.

To begin with, clothing on which more money is spent is usually of a high quality. This means that it will be more comfortable and is made up of good materials.Thus, it is an investment considering the fact they will survive for long term. For example, Aritzia is a popular Japanese brand which is quite expensive but it has the best jackets for harsh Canadian winters. Therefore, paying a higher price for something that brings more benefits can be a wise decision.

Additionally, many people consider clothes as a status symbol. If someone is wearing a nice pair of branded jeans or a t-shirt, they believe that there are more chances of them getting noticed. As these brands also ensure their logos are clearly visible and people can show it off when they wear such clothes. For instance, even for promoting these brands, companies prefer popular actor or actresses to attract more customers. This develops a need of buying and copying what their star icons promote so that they also feel alike them.

To conclude, having some expensive clothes as compared to countless cheaper ones is a good idea. In my perspective, clothes on which more money is to be spent are always of better quality and brings comfort. Along with this, they reflect big brands and hence, shows the status of a person in outer world.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have clearly stated your position and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant, focusing on quality, durability, and social status. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the example of Aritzia is helpful, but the discussion on status symbols could be more deeply explored to reach a higher band. You have addressed all parts of the prompt effectively, providing a balanced argument that supports your agreement with the statement. To improve, try to expand on your examples with more specific details or counter-arguments to demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Additionally', and 'To conclude' to signal the progression of your argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the sentence 'As these brands also ensure their logos are clearly visible and people can show it off when they wear such clothes' is a sentence fragment that disrupts the flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring all sentences are complete will help you achieve a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. Phrases like 'quality always supersedes quantity' and 'harsh Canadian winters' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'in contrast of' (should be 'in contrast to') and 'feel alike them' (should be 'feel like them'). While you attempt to use some less common vocabulary, the overall range is adequate rather than wide. To improve, focus on more precise collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing to demonstrate greater flexibility in your language use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'investing in limited number' (missing an article: 'a limited number'), 'made up of good materials' (slightly informal), and 'shows the status' (subject-verb agreement error: 'they show'). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to articles, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of prepositions in your final proofreading.

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

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