Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-22

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 5.5)

Public consider buying handful of luxury clothes as a fashion statement rather than buying affordable clothes from local shops. I concur with this statement, reason to be said premium look and materials used in manufacturing these clothes make them look sharp,Below essay will justify using the statement.

To begin with, people who wear branded clothes feel comfortable and look confident. due to the quality of materials and lenin used in stiching the clothes. For example, Branded shirts are usually hand stitched to perfection. Secondly, these fabrics are long lasting and durable so , there is never a problem with quality issue.

Furthermore,if the brand is established and recognized then clothes tend to expensive and eye appealing.For instance, clothes from Nike brand is always expensive due to its brand value and quality of products offered to athletes during olympic games. Moreover, pricy clothes are expensive by price tag although they are value for money .which is why they are durable.

To conclude, expensive clothes can brought withouth getting a pinch in the pocket to feel premium and pamper yourself. On the other hand, cheap clothes might not stay longer due to the quality of fabric provided. hence I totallt agree; that we should buy some luxury clothes for ourself

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you agree that buying a few expensive clothes is preferable, and you give relevant reasons such as comfort, durability, and confidence. The examples about branded shirts and Nike also relate to the topic. However, the reasons are asserted more than explained: for instance, the claim that branded shirts are hand-stitched does not show why this is generally true or how it supports buying fewer items. The point about Nike’s brand value is also only briefly developed. The conclusion repeats your view but does not add a developed final insight. The response is 42 words below the required minimum, so there is limited space to explain and support the ideas. Develop each reason with a clearer explanation or a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “Secondly,” “Furthermore,” and “To conclude” help signal the stages of your argument. The overall progression is understandable, but some links are mechanical, and ideas within paragraphs are not always connected smoothly. For example, the move from comfort and confidence to hand stitching is abrupt, while “Moreover, pricy clothes are expensive by price tag although they are value for money” repeats the price point without clearly advancing the argument. Punctuation and spacing also interrupt flow. To improve, organise each paragraph around one main reason, explain it, and then connect a relevant example directly to it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “durable,” “quality of materials,” “brand value,” and “value for money,” which helps communicate your main ideas. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “eye appealing” and “premium.” However, the range is limited and several choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, including “Public consider,” “lenin,” “pricy clothes are expensive by price tag,” and “without getting a pinch in the pocket.” Spelling errors such as “stiching,” “withouth,” and “totallt” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural, precise phrases rather than combining similar ideas, and check spelling carefully. For example, “well-made garments” and “cost-effective over time” would express your points more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional clause in “if the brand is established and recognized then clothes tend to expensive.” However, errors are frequent and sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Examples include the incomplete opening sentence, “Public consider buying handful…,” the missing verb in “clothes tend to expensive,” and the faulty construction “expensive clothes can brought.” Subject–verb agreement and articles also need attention, as in “clothes from Nike brand is.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation are inconsistent, with run-on or fragmented sections such as “which is why they are durable.” Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement, articles, and punctuation before submitting.

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