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 suggested that consumers should prefer purchasing fewer but costlier garments, instead of many inexpensive ones. I agree with this view because expensive clothes provide a longer wear which make them more afforadable in the long-term. Moreover, buying fewer clothes promotes sustainablity making it more environmentally friendly.

Expensive clothes are considered to be more durable as consumers get more wear from them and less frequently need to buy replacements.The clothes are of superior quality because the clothing brands use the best raw materials and manufacturing processes for their product. As a result consumers can buy the clothes with confidence and know that they do not need to buy back up. By this I mean, if an individual buys a good pair of black jean, he/she can wear it for a long time. It can be styled in different ways. There will not be a need to buy an extra pair for just in case it gets torn.

On the other hand, the environment can also benefit from the sustainability choices that consumers make. When the consumers are buying less clothes, the factories in turn will also reduce the supply of clothes. This will result in less production cycles in factories reducing the waste from exhaust fumes. Moreover, we can also save on the non biodegradeable waste of plastic. The garments are usually packaged in plactic packaging. The reduced sales can help in decreasing production of the envirmental pollutant plastic.

In conclusion, although some people think buying many cheap clothes is better, I believe that there buying fewer costlier clothing is better. This choice benefits the individuals by reducing the money spent on purshing clothes in the long term and also benefits the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt, taking a clear stance that buying fewer expensive, durable clothes is preferable. The position is maintained throughout the response. Ideas are relevant and supported with explanations, such as the longevity of a 'good pair of black jean' and environmental benefits regarding factories and plastic packaging. However, some arguments remain slightly under-developed, bordering on generalization, which aligns best with Band 7 descriptors. For example, the link between consumer demand and exhaust fumes is briefly stated without deeper elaboration. Nevertheless, the main task requirements are fully satisfied with a clear, coherent position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas from introduction to body paragraphs and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with distinct paragraphs dedicated to durability and environmental impact. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well, using words like 'Moreover', 'As a result', and 'On the other hand' to link sentences and paragraphs. However, referencing is occasionally repetitive or slightly clunky, as seen in phrases like 'By this I mean', and minor mechanical cohesive links appear throughout. This level of organization and cohesive control comfortably fits the Band 7 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'sustainability', 'durable', 'manufacturing processes', and 'non biodegradable'. There are, however, a few spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'afforadable' (affordable), 'sustainablity' (sustainability), 'plactic' (plastic), and 'purshing' (purchasing). While these minor errors do not impede communication, they prevent the lexical score from reaching Band 7. The vocabulary is adequate and allows for some precision, which is characteristic of Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student produces a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over relative clauses and conditional structures. There are several good complex sentences, such as 'When the consumers are buying less clothes, the factories in turn will also reduce the supply of clothes.' However, grammatical errors occur, including singular/plural mismatches ('less clothes' instead of 'fewer clothes'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing like 'buying fewer costlier clothing is better'. These errors do not impede communication, reflecting a typical Band 6 profile where simple and complex structures are mixed with occasional mistakes.

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

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