Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-24
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 6.0)
It has been argued by some individuals that purchasing some expensive clothes is a better approach than buying a large number of cheaper clothes. Although having more cheaper clothes has some advantages, I believe that buying a few branded clothes is more advantageous.
On the one hand, purchasing more cheaper clothes has some advantages. Firstly, clothing is an important necessity of humans similar to food and shelter, people, who are not earning high incomes, cannot buy expensive clothes. Secondly, people do not feel dull and boring if they a large quantity of clothes.
On the other hand, having less number of expensive clothing has several benefits. One of the main benefits is that branded clothes are mostly more durable. Therefore, people can use them for a long time and there is no need to spend money for clothes shopping again. In the long run, they can save some money. In addition, spending a large amount of money on better clothing is beneficial for environment. For example, sometimes people generally throw cheaper clothes in dumping area after using them for a few times and it takes so long to decompose them in soil, so pollution increases. In fact, it also reduces the fertility of soil which is essential for the growth of plants.
In conclusion, while having more cheaper clothes has some advantages, I largely think that purchasing a few expensive clothes is more beneficial because they are more durable and eco-friendly.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the response is 241 words, falling short of the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the development of ideas, which remain somewhat superficial. While the arguments regarding durability and environmental impact are relevant, they lack depth and specific examples. The points regarding low-income earners and variety are mentioned but not fully explored. To reach a higher band, you must expand your arguments with more detailed explanations and ensure the word count is met to allow for a more comprehensive discussion of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' 'Firstly,' and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the transitions between sentences within paragraphs are sometimes mechanical. For instance, the link between the environmental argument and the soil fertility point could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall progression of ideas feels slightly repetitive due to the limited length of the essay. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. You rely on simple terms like 'cheaper clothes' and 'expensive clothes' repeatedly. While you attempt some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'necessity,' 'durable,' 'decompose,' and 'fertility,' the range is limited. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'less number of expensive clothing' (should be 'fewer expensive items') and 'dumping area' (should be 'landfill'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and academic collocations to demonstrate a wider lexical range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'people, who are not earning high incomes, cannot buy' (the commas are unnecessary) and 'if they a large quantity' (missing verb 'have'). Additionally, 'having less number of expensive clothing' is grammatically incorrect. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of quantifiers to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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