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 affordable in the long-term. Moreover, buying fewer clothes promotes sustainability 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. Furthermore, we can also save on the non biodegradable waste of plastic. The garments are usually packaged in plastic packaging. The reduced sales can help in decreasing production of the environmental 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 purchasing clothes in the long term and also benefits the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response clearly addresses all parts of the task by taking a firm position that buying fewer, more expensive clothes is preferable to buying many cheaper ones. The writer develops two main supporting ideas: durability and cost-effectiveness in the long term, and environmental sustainability. For instance, the first body paragraph explains how higher quality materials lead to less frequent replacements and illustrates this with a clear example about a good pair of black jeans. The second body paragraph extends the environmental argument by discussing reduced production cycles and plastic packaging waste. The position is well-maintained throughout the essay, and the ideas are supported with relevant explanations and personal knowledge, fully satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with an introduction that outlines the writer's position, followed by two well-structured body paragraphs addressing durability and the environment respectively, and a clear concluding paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'As a result', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas logically. While referencing is mostly clear, a slight improvement in cohesive transitions would be needed for a higher band, but the overall structure meets the Band 7.0 descriptors well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, allowing for the discussion of complex topics like sustainability and consumer habits. Items such as 'consumers', 'durable', 'manufacturing processes', 'sustainability choices', and 'environmental pollutant' demonstrate a solid grasp of topic-specific lexis. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses in word choice or phrasing, such as 'longer wear' instead of 'greater longevity' and 'buying less clothes' instead of 'fewer clothes', but these do not impede communication. The lexical range is adequate for the task and shows good awareness of style and collocation, aligning comfortably with a Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional-style reasoning and relative clauses, such as 'Consumers get more wear from them and less frequently need to buy replacements' and 'if an individual buys a good pair of black jean, he/she can wear it for a long time.' There are some minor grammatical errors, such as singular/plural mismatches like 'black jean' instead of 'jeans' and 'buying less clothes' instead of 'fewer clothes', alongside a slight slip in the conclusion ('I believe that there buying fewer costlier clothing'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication, with many sentences remaining entirely error-free, which fully supports a Band 6.5 score.

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

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