Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02
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 always been a matter of debate whether we should buy expensive clothes or cheap ones. Many individuals say it is better to invest in a few branded clothes rather than collecting a variety of budget-friendly clothes. I certainly disagree with this view. Even though, the branded clothes are visually more appealing, it does not mean that we should wear the same clothes frequently.
To commence with, having a few branded clothes may create hygiene issues and are more prone to wear and tear, due to their repeated use and wash. If any individual have a limited number of clothes, they might wear them more frequently and end up buying more clothes. As repeatedly wearing the same garments may affect their durability. Moreover, if any individual does not wash their clothes after every use, they are more vulnerable to skin infections such as itching and rashes. Therefore, it is better to buy more clothes at a cheaper price rather than having a few branded articles. For instance, the quality of garments depends upon their fabric not on its price and brand.
Furthermore, middle-class individuals have a limited budget for their clothes and they have to go to work every day. Instead of buying a few expensive clothes, they prefer to buy a variety of clothes from the local market at a cheap price to change them every day as per their office requirements. If clothes are taken care properly, they may not solely stand out but also be durable. If any individual comes under the peer pressure and invests a large chunk of money into the expensive clothes just to get a few compliments, they may struggle financially.
To sum up, branded clothes may help to get you the compliments from friends and family but having only a few of them leads to hygiene issues and more wear and tear of clothes. I believe it is always better to buy a variety of clothes at a cheaper price. By taking care of them, we may have options to wear every day and they are also economical
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have clearly addressed the prompt and maintained a consistent position throughout the essay. Your arguments regarding hygiene, durability, and financial constraints are relevant and well-supported. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting points are fully developed; for instance, the link between 'branded clothes' and 'hygiene issues' is a bit of a leap, as expensive clothes can also be washed. Expanding on the economic argument with more specific examples or nuanced reasoning would strengthen the response. Overall, the ideas are relevant and the position is clear.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. For example, the phrase 'if any individual' is used multiple times, which affects the flow. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'budget-friendly', 'garments', and 'economical'. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'collecting a variety of budget-friendly clothes' (where 'purchasing' or 'acquiring' might be more natural) and 'take care properly' (should be 'taken care of properly'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'If any individual have' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'Even though, the branded clothes are...' (incorrect comma usage). Additionally, some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'they may not solely stand out but also be durable'. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and paying closer attention to subject-verb agreement and punctuation will help you achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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