Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-06

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 7.0)

Today, people have different ideas about buying clothes. Some people think that buy a lot of cheap clothes more profitable, while others choose to buy only a few expensive, high-quality items. In my opinion, it is much better to buy a few expensive clothes because it saves money in the long run and helps protect our planet.

First of all, expensive clothes last much longer, which saves you money over time. Good brands use strong materials and stitch clothes carefully, so they do not wear out easily. On the other hand, cheap clothes often lose their shape or tear after just a few washes. This means you have to keep buying new ones constantly. For example, a good winter coat can last for many years, but a cheap one might only last for one season. Therefore, buying quality items is a smarter financial choice.

Secondly, buying fewer clothes is much better for the environment. Factory production of cheap clothing creates a massive amount of pollution and waste. These factories use harmful chemicals and synthetic fabrics that do not decay easily. When people stop buying huge amounts of cheap fashion, factories make less waste, and fewer old clothes end up in the trash. This simple change helps reduce global pollution significantly. Most of expensive clothes are easily recyclable .

In conclusion, I completely agree that it is better to buy a small number of expensive clothes. It is a wiser choice because it saves your hard-earned money and prevents environmental damage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout. The arguments regarding financial savings and environmental impact are relevant and well-supported with logical explanations and examples, such as the comparison between a winter coat and cheap alternatives. The ideas are developed sufficiently to meet the requirements of the task. The conclusion effectively restates the position, ensuring the response is cohesive and focused. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more nuanced examples or explore potential counter-arguments in greater depth to demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'On the other hand', 'Therefore', and 'Secondly' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of the argument is consistent. While the use of cohesive devices is functional and clear, it is somewhat standard; incorporating a wider variety of linking phrases or more subtle transitions could elevate the score further.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is sufficient to convey the message clearly and accurately. The student uses topic-specific terms such as 'synthetic fabrics', 'recyclable', and 'high-quality items'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'buy a lot of cheap clothes more profitable' (which should be 'buying a lot of cheap clothes is more profitable') and 'Most of expensive clothes' (which should be 'Most expensive clothes'). While the range is adequate for the task, the student relies on relatively common vocabulary. Incorporating more precise collocations or less common lexical items would demonstrate a higher level of control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are occasional grammatical slips, such as the missing verb in the opening sentence ('Some people think that buy a lot...') and the awkward phrasing 'Most of expensive clothes'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, the student should aim for a greater variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, while maintaining the current level of accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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