Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-27
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)
In this day and age, fashionable clothes has become a particularly salient issue in contemporary society, prompting considerable debate over whether to purchase a wide variety of lower priced clothes or selective range of costly clothes. Although there are compelling arguments on both sides. I firmly disagree with this statement because buying large number of affordable clothes are more beneficial because people enjoy a variety in less price.
The primary reason why I disagree with this view is that affordable clothing provides consumers with different choices. By purchasing cheaper clothes, individuals can fill their wardrobe with lots of fashionable clothes. Having done this they can follow the latest trends .
A further compelling argument of this position is that when people purchased some expensive clothes they wore that again and again and then get bored. This, in turn, means that when the trend is over they no longer wore those clothes. This can ultimately lead to wastage of money, thereby making a purchase of cheaper clothes is the best option.
To recapitulate, although expensive clothes may have some merit, I remain firmly agree with my opinion that buying cheaper clothes are more beneficial for consumers because the society can follow the trends, get some variety and also save some money.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you clearly state your position, the arguments are underdeveloped and lack depth. For instance, the point about getting bored with expensive clothes is a good starting idea, but it is not supported with sufficient detail or real-world examples. To improve, you must expand on your reasoning and provide more comprehensive explanations for your claims. The under-length nature of the essay prevents a full exploration of the topic, which limits the score for this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the transition 'A further compelling argument of this position is that...' is a bit clunky. Additionally, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly. While the overall progression of the argument is understandable, the lack of sophisticated transitions and the brevity of the text make the cohesion feel somewhat basic.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'salient issue,' 'contemporary society,' and 'recapitulate.' However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'buying large number of affordable clothes are more beneficial' (should be 'is') and 'I remain firmly agree' (should be 'I remain firmly of the opinion' or 'I firmly agree'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your range of collocations and ensuring accurate word forms will help improve your score in this area.
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 distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'fashionable clothes has become' (should be 'have') and 'buying large number of affordable clothes are' (should be 'is'). There are also tense inconsistencies, such as 'when people purchased some expensive clothes they wore that again and again' (should be 'purchase' and 'wear'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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