Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-15
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)
I believe that buying branded clothes is better because of stronger fabrics, longer lifespan and reliability as comapred to cheaper clothes. But sometimes purchasing cheaper clothes are also good because some people do not want to spend more money on expensive clothes. This essay will discuss both aspects in the upcoming paragraphs.
On one hand, people like to buy some expensive clothes because some premium brands use stronger fabrics such as silk, oragnic cotton, and fine wool. As a result, individuals feels comfortable, warmth while wearing these types of clothes. Expensive clothes have longer lifespan because of the higher quality fabric. Some brands also offers unique style and wide range of articles which encourage customers to buy at any cost. Moreover, expensive clothes also shows wealth and status. Certain people wants to show off their status and class in the public so that's why they choose to wear branded clothes.
On the other hand, buying cheaper clothes are also better because it saves money. These types of clothes offers less and affordable price istead of expensive clothes. For instance, winter shoes are available at $75 at local stores and $125 at branded stores, people who don't have enough money are more likely to buy from the local stores. In this way, they can save their money and spend that money on other expenditure. Furthermore, Some individuals don't like to wear branded clothes in their daily basis because they are very expensive and they don't want to damage their clothes. So, they prefer cheaper clothes for office, or any other daily activities.
In a nutshell, although expensive clothes better because of the fabrics, longevity, unique styles, and reliability but cheaper clothes are good because of the affordable prices and wide range of variety for office wears or other events for daily basis.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position on whether it is better to buy a few expensive clothes or lots of cheaper ones, discussing both viewpoints. In the introduction, the writer states a preference for branded clothes while acknowledging the validity of cheaper alternatives. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations, such as the durability of premium fabrics and the financial pragmatism of budget choices. However, there is a tendency to over-generalise in parts, such as claiming that 'expensive clothes also shows wealth and status,' which could benefit from more nuanced development. Overall, the task is well-addressed, fulfilling the core requirements of a discussion-style essay with a clear, supported stance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are arranged coherently, with a standard four-paragraph structure that frames the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand,' 'On the other hand,' 'Moreover,' and 'Furthermore' are used to signal shifts between ideas, although some cohesive links feel slightly mechanical or repetitive in structure. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each main body paragraph focusing on a distinct side of the argument. Referencing is generally clear, ensuring the reader can easily follow the progression of thoughts from the durability of clothes to economic considerations.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is adequate and generally appropriate for the task, demonstrating a sufficient range for some flexibility and precision. The student attempts less common lexical items such as 'lifespan,' 'expenditure,' and 'premium brands,' showing an awareness of topic-related vocabulary. However, there are noticeable word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'individuals feels comfortable, warmth' instead of 'warm,' 'offers unique style' instead of 'offer a unique style,' and 'on their daily basis' instead of 'on a daily basis.' Spelling is mostly accurate, with a few slips like 'comapred' and 'oragnic,' but these errors do not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating conditional ideas and subordinate clauses successfully. There are, however, several grammatical inaccuracies throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues such as 'purchasing cheaper clothes are also good' and 'Certain people wants,' as well as awkward phrasing like 'buying cheaper clothes are also better.' Punctuation is generally functional, but minor slip-ups occur. While these errors are frequent enough to prevent a higher band, the majority of sentences are understandable, and communication is rarely impeded.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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