Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-28

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)

People argue that it is better to own few expensive outfits rather than many low quality cheap clothes. While some people genuinley cannot afford expensive clothes, I believe that having few expensive ones with great quality is far more better than having many cheap one.

On the one hand, cheap clothes most time are associated with poor quality, hence why it is cheap. Some people prefer buying loads of them, so that they have options of what to wear at different occassions or to avoid repeating outfits. For instance, I had a roommate in the university who prefers to wear different style of clothes to lectures each day of the month, and the only way she can maintain this is by opting for the cheap ones. Unfortunately, these clothes do not last because either the colour fades after one wash or they are torn prematurely. In addition, because cheap clothes do not stand the test of time, people keeps buying them which makes it more expensive in the long run.

On the other hand, investing in two or few quality outfits which are usually expensive, can last one for few years. It gives the owner peace of mind knowing that the colour of their clothes will not fade, nor torn apart easily. For example, my father owns only a handful of quality clothes and most of them are over ten years old and still like new. Furthermore, with few expensive clothes, it saves people from frequent shopping and spending on clothes, thereby channeling the money to other things.

In conclusion, although some people prefer to buy multiple clothes that cheap so as to save money or change their styles regularly, I agree that buying few expensive ones with good qulaity is worth it because it saves people from shopping stress as well as financial stress.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response clearly addresses the prompt regarding whether to buy a few expensive clothes or many cheaper alternatives, taking a well-defined position that you prefer quality over quantity. The introduction outlines this stance clearly, and the body paragraphs develop relevant arguments for both sides before reinforcing your final opinion. The first body paragraph discusses the pitfalls of cheap clothing, citing a personal example about a university roommate who constantly bought cheap outfits that quickly faded or tore. The second body paragraph highlights the longevity and financial benefits of investing in durable, high-end pieces, backed by another relevant example of your father's long-lasting wardrobe. Ideas are sufficiently extended and supported, fitting comfortably within the Band 7 criteria where all parts of the task are addressed with a clear position throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The response is divided into four well-structured paragraphs, including a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs representing opposing views and your stance, and a concise concluding paragraph. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well to guide the reader through your arguments, utilizing transition signals such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, there are minor cohesive slips and referencing issues, such as 'multiple clothes that cheap' in the conclusion or 'cheap clothes most time' in the first body paragraph, which slightly disrupt the flow. Nevertheless, paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall progression remains easy to follow, supporting a Band 6.5 or solid 7.0 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary range used throughout the essay is adequate and sufficient for the task. You attempt less common and topic-specific vocabulary such as 'durability', 'longevity', 'peace of mind', and 'frequent shopping'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and spelling errors, such as 'genuinley' instead of genuinely, 'occassions' instead of occasions, and 'qulaity' instead of quality. Additionally, phrases like 'far more better' contain redundant comparative forms, and 'people keeps buying' demonstrates a minor collocation or agreement oversight. Despite these recurring minor errors, the vocabulary is adequate to communicate your message clearly without impeding the reader's understanding, aligning closely with the Band 6 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating your ability to construct compound and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While some people genuinley cannot afford expensive clothes, I believe that having few expensive ones...'). There are, however, several grammatical and punctuation errors sprinkled throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues such as 'people keeps buying them', awkward phrasing like 'many cheap one', and punctuation oversights. While these errors occur regularly, they rarely impede communication, and many sentences remain grammatically sound. This combination of complex sentence attempts alongside frequent minor errors places the essay securely in the Band 6 category.

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