Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-29

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In their advertising, businesses nowadays usually emphasise that their products are new in some way. Why is this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.5)

In today's competitive market, many companies advertise their products by emphasizing that they are new or have been improved in some way. This is mainly because consumers are naturally attracted to innovation. Although this strategy can encourage technological progress, I believe it is a negative development because it promotes unnecessary consumption and environmental damage.

One primary reason businesses highlight the novelty of their products is to attract more customers and increase sales. People often believe that newer products offer better quality, advanced features, and greater convenience than older versions. As a result, companies use this belief to persuade consumers to replace products they already own. For example, smartphone manufacturers release new models every year with only minor upgrades, yet millions of customers purchase them simply because they are advertised as the latest versions. Therefore, emphasizing newness is an effective marketing strategy that helps businesses maximize their profits.

However, this advertising trend has several negative consequences for both individuals and society. It encourages people to buy products they do not actually need, leading to unnecessary spending and excessive consumerism. Moreover, producing and disposing of frequently replaced items consumes natural resources and increases environmental pollution. For instance, many electronic devices are discarded every year even though they are still in good working condition, creating large amounts of electronic waste. Therefore, constantly promoting new products does more harm than good in the long run.

In conclusion, companies emphasize that their products are new because this attracts customers and boosts sales. However, I believe this is a negative development since it encourages unnecessary consumption and causes environmental problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly identify why businesses emphasize 'newness'—to capitalize on consumer desire for innovation and maximize profits—and you take a firm, well-supported stance that this is a negative development. Your arguments regarding consumerism and environmental impact are logical and well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of smartphone release cycles and electronic waste. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes your main points. To reach a higher band, you could further explore the nuance of whether 'newness' ever serves a positive purpose, such as driving genuine technological breakthroughs, to provide a more balanced perspective before reinforcing your final stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the reasons for the trend and the negative consequences is smooth. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'As a result,' 'Moreover,' and 'For instance,' which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. The flow is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage of linking words. The structure is coherent and supports the overall argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases like 'competitive market,' 'excessive consumerism,' and 'electronic waste' are used accurately and in the correct context. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, it is generally standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations and idiomatic expressions. For example, instead of 'do more harm than good,' you might use 'exacerbate environmental degradation' or 'carry significant ecological repercussions.' The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choice consistently conveys your intended meaning without ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your writing displays a good command of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional-like structure in 'even though they are still in good working condition.' The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a hallmark of a strong performance. To reach the highest bands, ensure you continue to experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, while maintaining this high level of accuracy.

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