Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-23
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)
I agree, expensive clothes is the best. Expensive clothes lasts for long time and its freshness never fades away but cheaper clothes fades easily sometimes shrinks very easily.
In our childhood days its always been taught that don't spend the money unnecessarily in buying branded clothes and most of us follow the same but when we realize this wrong misconception it will be too late. I believe expensive clothes lasts longer but that does not mean it should be a branded one. Any clothes it might not be expensive but last longer can still be used for our daily purpose. For example i have 2 jeans which I am using for last 10 years and it still look brand new but that's not a branded one and but expensive. So, it's not always brand and premium carries the same weight. Another example is, I had one shirt which I love the most not a branded one but it lasts long and still I am using it.
So it's not always goes in same pattern. Even I had some bad experiences, branded clothes which I liked the most didn't last and faded quickly. So it's all depends upon the type of cloth material, dye color, stitching pattern etc.
To conclude i don't agree expensive clothes are the best and cheap clothes are worst. It's varies from buyer to buyer. Expensive clothes creates a status of richness and gives a best impression. To create a better image in the society expensive clothes are the best that gives respect and value.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt but presents a contradictory position. You begin by stating you agree that expensive clothes are best, but then argue that quality is independent of price, eventually concluding that you do not agree with the premise. This lack of a clear, consistent position makes it difficult for the reader to follow your argument. While you provide personal examples, the development is somewhat repetitive and lacks depth. To improve, ensure you choose a clear stance at the beginning and maintain it throughout the essay, supporting your main points with more analytical reasoning rather than just personal anecdotes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is hindered by the shifting stance. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'For example' and 'To conclude', but they are sometimes used mechanically or in ways that do not effectively link the conflicting ideas. The transition between the idea of 'status' in the conclusion and the previous argument about 'quality' is abrupt. Improving the use of linking words to show contrast (e.g., 'nevertheless', 'conversely') would help create a smoother flow between your arguments.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'expensive clothes' and 'branded clothes'. There are also some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'freshness never fades away' (referring to clothes) and 'expensive clothes creates a status'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to consumer habits, such as 'durability', 'cost-effectiveness', 'socio-economic status', or 'garment longevity', and ensure you use them in the correct context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'expensive clothes lasts', 'it's varies') and article usage errors (e.g., 'a branded one'). Sentence structures are mostly simple or compound, with limited attempts at complex sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors require the reader to work harder to understand your points. Focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of singular/plural nouns to improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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