Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-23

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)

In this modern scenario, people follow the fashionable trend and they neglect the quality of the products. Some people hold the notion that it is good for them to buy the best quality of clothes instead of buying the cheapest clothes in bulk. I agree with this statement because it reduces the investment in clothes and saves money for other purposes. This essay will explain the same in the forthcoming paragraphs.

To begin with, the first and foremost reason behind this statement is that good quality clothes are likely to be used for a long period of time. It is mandatory to focus on the quality of the clothes. There is no doubt that good quality products are expensive, but people do not need to spend money again and again on buying outfits. For example, Tommy Hilfiger is a well-known brand across the world. The jackets of this brand are expensive. However, they are likely to be used long lasting because the colour of the jackets does not fade easily. Moreover, the zips of the jackets work well.

Furthermore, the second reason is that buying expensive and good-quality clothes also helps to reduce the unnecessary demand for clothing production. Millions of people want to follow in the footsteps of their role models. Consequently, because of this, they buy fashionable clothes and disregard the quality of the outfits.

I agree with this idea for several reasons. Firstly, purchasing high-quality clothes increases the responsibility of the individuals. People are eager to keep them safe because they are very expensive. Ultimately, they do not throw them away soon. Thus, it helps to maintain an eco-friendly environment.

To recapitulate, it can be inferred that people should focus on quality instead of quantity, as it helps to reduce the demand for clothing production and saves money. They do not need to buy inexpensive clothes in large quantities.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion7.0
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout. The writer agrees that buying a few expensive clothes is better than lots of cheaper clothes and supports this with relevant ideas, such as durability, environmental benefits, and financial savings. For example, the mention of Tommy Hilfiger jackets effectively illustrates the point about longevity and quality. However, some ideas are a bit repetitive, particularly when the writer restates the agreement in the fourth paragraph after having already stated it in the introduction. Overall, the task is addressed well, with clear extensions of ideas, aligning closely with Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs discussing durability and environmental impact, and concluding with a summary. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, with transition phrases such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'To recapitulate' guiding the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately. However, referencing and cohesion occasionally feel slightly mechanical, and the repetition of the thesis statement in the fourth paragraph disrupts the otherwise smooth progression, placing this firmly in the Band 7 category.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting some less common items such as 'eco-friendly', 'unnecessary demand', and 'fashionable trend'. Word choice is generally appropriate, though there are some slight awkwardness and collocation issues, such as 'used long lasting' instead of 'long-lasting' or 'durable'. Spelling and word formation are mostly accurate, and communication is never impeded by lexical errors. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message with some precision, it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher band levels, making Band 6.0 an appropriate score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a reasonable command of grammar. Examples of complex structures include 'Some people hold the notion that it is good for them to buy the best quality of clothes instead of buying the cheapest clothes in bulk.' There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasings present, such as 'used long lasting' and 'the second reason is that buying expensive and good-quality clothes also helps to reduce...', but these errors rarely impede communication and the majority of simple sentences are accurate. Punctuation is generally sound. This performance reflects the characteristics of Band 6.

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

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