Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-30

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 6.0)

We need clothes for different ocassions and events. For office, we need formals, for party we need stylish clothes, for hanging out we need casuals and for daily wear we need comfortable clothes. Some people buy expensive clothes irrespective of the ocassion or the location, while others prefer buying cheap clothes in large quantity. Both types of people have their reasons and no one is better when it comes to the decision of buying clothes.

However, I believe that we don't have to buy either expensive clothes or cheap clothes. We can buy both kinds of clothes while maintaining a balance. Depending on the requirement, we can choose, if we need to buy expensive clothes or cheap ones. For example, when I need clothes for a party, I usually buy premium clothes that are not too expensive but are costly enough to not compromise the quality. I choose the colors keeping in mind the trends and that I can wear such colors at various events. Pastel colors are evergreen and when premium clothes are bought in such colors in limited quantity they can serve you for years. Similarly, for office attire, I buy mid range premium clothes that are mostly cotton or linen, and I experiment with colors as I would have to wear them daily to the office. I prefer keeping the light colors to blend in the office environment. For daily wear home clothes, i buy loose, comfortable and cheap clothes as they are going to be washed the most and would have the most wear and tear.

So, I believe that instead of just sticking to one type of wardrobe, we can mix different categories, prices and quality to suit our needs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the debate between buying expensive versus cheap clothes, but instead of choosing a clear side, the writer adopts a balanced middle-ground position, arguing that one should buy both depending on the requirement. While this position is acceptable, the prompt explicitly asks whether you agree or disagree with the statement that it is better to buy just a few expensive clothes rather than lots of cheaper clothes. The candidate partially shifts away from a direct 'agree' or 'disagree' stance to suggest a compromise, which impacts the task response criteria slightly. However, ideas are supported with relevant examples, such as buying mid-range clothes for the office and cheaper clothes for daily home wear, showing some good task development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay is organized into three paragraphs: an introduction, a well-developed body paragraph detailing different clothing needs, and a brief conclusion. Ideas are logically sequenced overall, moving from general clothing needs to specific personal examples. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However', 'For example', and 'Similarly', though referencing can occasionally feel a bit mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the main line of argument. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the transition between the introductory thoughts on different people and the writer's specific strategy could be smoother to achieve a higher band.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The candidate demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully using terms such as 'irrespective', 'premium', 'evergreen', 'blend in', and 'wear and tear'. However, there are some minor spelling and lexical errors, such as 'ocassions' (occasions) in the first sentence and 'mid range' (mid-range). The vocabulary is mostly functional and attempts less common lexical items, but word choice lacks the precision and flexibility required for Band 7. Still, the lexical resource is entirely sufficient to communicate ideas clearly without impeding the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with good use of subordinate clauses such as 'when I need clothes for a party, I usually buy premium clothes that are not too expensive...'. There are minor punctuation and capitalization issues, such as the lowercase 'i' in 'i buy loose' in the second body paragraph. Grammatical structures are generally sound, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The majority of simple sentences are error-free, and complex attempts are handled with reasonable control, placing this firmly in the Band 6.5 to 7 range.

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