Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03
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)
It is often argued that purchasing clothes which are higher in prices are more effective than spend money on buying cheaper attires.
i partially agree with this statement because no doubt good quality products are long durable and helps to reduce waste. However, the price does not confirm quality, affordable products can also meets person needs. This essay shall dwell light upon my perspective in the upcoming paragraphs.
On the one hand, spending more on durable clothing can be economical for long term. To explain it, garments made from strong fabrics helps individuals to consume more and washing, reducing the need for frequent changes. For instance, well made winter jacket of Calvin Klein can helps people to use more than 3 or 4 winter seasons rather than buying from local websites such as Temu or sheen. As a result of this, it automatically reduce the waste of different garments.
On the other hand, Cheaper clothes can save the society from changing the trend frequently, not stress people to buy more clothes at reasonable values. Similarly folks with limited salary can fulfil needs according to ongoing trend. For Example, by choosing affordable price products people can dress comfortably without feeling stressed with constantly changing fashion.
In conclusion, i would like to assert that buying fewer expensive clothes can be beneficials for customers according to quality and durability. Nevertheless, I believe purchasing decision depends on person's budget and needs rather than on price alone.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both sides of the argument and providing a clear personal position. However, the essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the argument regarding 'cheaper clothes' could be expanded with more specific examples or a more nuanced explanation of the economic impact. The conclusion is clear, but the overall brevity prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure you fully explore your points with more detailed explanations and examples to meet the word count requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' are used to signal the structure. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing and logical progression. For example, the transition between the idea of 'consuming more' and 'washing' in the first body paragraph is slightly confusing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'dwell light upon' (which is an incorrect idiom; 'shed light on' is the correct form) and 'economical'. However, there are several word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'higher in prices' instead of 'higher-priced' and 'cheaper attires' (attire is usually uncountable). The range is sufficient to communicate, but the lack of precision and occasional errors in word formation prevent a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('products... helps', 'jacket... can helps'), incorrect verb forms ('can also meets'), and punctuation errors. These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader, though they do not completely impede communication. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that modal verbs are followed by the base form of the verb without an 's'.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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