Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-20

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 is often argued that when purchasing clothes, preference should be placed on buying a fewer pieces of costly garments instead of many inexpensive ones. I agree with this view, because expensive clothing items are of superior quality and offer a long wear, being cost effective and an environmentally friendly option in the long-term.

Firstly, the reason for a clothing item to be more costly is the manufacturing cost. Sourcing the raw products for fabric and utilizing good tailors adds to the cost. However, the final product is of superior quality. People will be able to get a longer wear from the fabric. Therefore, in the long term individuals would not need to repurchase clothes as oftenly. For example, a plain white shirt is considered a staple in everyone's wardrobe. Just investing in one good quality item will mean an item that will last you longer without needing to waste the older one and repurchase a new shirt.

Secondly, buying expensive clothes is like an investment for our own selves and environment. Clothes will offer a good wear and you can manage a capsule wardrobe, restyling and rewearing the same thing with different combinations. For instance, owning only one good black pants that can last them several washes is more economical than buying several different unique ones. This also means there is less waste in the environment as we are limiting our purchases to only what we actually need.

In conclusion, I agree that buying fewer but costlier garments is better in comparison to buying more of less expensive garments. The benefits of sustainability and eco-friendliness brought by purchasing the costly garments further strengthens my viewpoint.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a position agreeing with the prompt and supporting it throughout with relevant ideas. The arguments regarding manufacturing costs, superior quality, and environmental sustainability are well-developed and extended. For instance, the discussion on capsule wardrobes and the reduction of clothing waste adds good depth to the reasoning. The stance remains clear from the introduction through to the conclusion, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0. The ideas flow logically and are supported by appropriate examples, such as the mention of a plain white shirt and a pair of black pants, ensuring the task is thoroughly explored without any omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and a progression of ideas throughout. Each body paragraph has a distinct focus indicated by clear sequencing markers such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body points, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are generally well managed, though there are minor slips in referencing, such as shifting between plural and singular pronouns ('owning only one good black pants that can last them'). However, the overall arrangement is coherent and the logical relationship between sentences remains clear, easily earning a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, incorporating less common items such as 'capsule wardrobe', 'cost effective', and 'eco-friendliness'. There are occasional lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'buying a fewer pieces of costly garments' (unnecessary article 'a') and 'as oftenly' (non-standard form of 'often'). Despite these minor errors, the vocabulary is adequate to convey precise meanings and attempts at style demonstrate a solid Band 6.5 capability, rounding to a Band 6.5 or 7.0 depending on fluency; here, the range supports a solid 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response incorporates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, featuring relative clauses and conditional-style reasoning. There are several grammatical errors present, such as 'long wear' (incorrect noun usage), 'repurchase clothes as oftenly' (lexico-grammatical error), and pronoun agreement issues like 'owning only one good black pants that can last them'. However, these errors rarely impede communication, and the meaning of the sentences remains clear to the reader. Because there is a good mix of structures alongside noticeable non-systematic errors, the performance aligns well with the Band 6.5 descriptors.

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

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