Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-15
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 has been debate going on buying a few expensive clothes instead of purchasing low budget outfits. I strongly support the point of purchasing the expensive clothes. This essay will discuss the major reasons to support the purchase of expensive clothes with examples.
First of all the quality of the expensive clothes are far better than the cheaper clothes. It can be seen that the clothes which costs high are made up of fabric of good quality. For example, the outfits
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, reaching only 81 words. Because the essay is incomplete and stops mid-sentence, the task is only partially addressed. The position is clear, but the development of ideas is severely limited due to the lack of length. To achieve a higher band, you must complete the essay by providing fully developed arguments and a conclusion. The current response fails to meet the basic requirements of the task, which necessitates a significant penalty under Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay shows a basic attempt at logical organization, using a clear introduction and starting a body paragraph with 'First of all'. However, because the text is incomplete, it is impossible to assess the overall progression or the effective use of cohesive devices throughout a full essay. Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt ending prevents a coherent conclusion. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is functional but limited. You use basic phrases like 'low budget outfits' and 'expensive clothes' repeatedly. There is little evidence of a wide range of vocabulary or the use of less common lexical items. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to consumer habits, such as 'durability', 'cost-effectiveness', or 'fast fashion'. The current range is sufficient for the limited content provided, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are several grammatical errors in the short text provided. For example, 'the quality of the expensive clothes are' should be 'is' to agree with the singular subject 'quality'. Additionally, 'the clothes which costs high' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'the clothes which cost more' or 'are expensive'. The sentence structures are relatively simple. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate a wider variety of complex sentence structures and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistently accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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