Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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 6.0)

In recent years, advertising businesses has become a noticeable trend in many parts of the world. Although this development may give rise to certain challenges, I consider it to be an overall positive development because of its impact on increasing sales and improving online visibility.

The most significant advantage of advertising a business is that it can increase product sales. This is primarily because, in a competitive market, every business tries its best to increase its sales. As a result, advertising can be an effective solution. Businesses can make their advertisements more attractive and effective. A clear example of this can be seen on television, where we frequently see advertisements. Audience engagement depends entirely on the quality of an advertisement. Through this method, businesses can increase their sales. Therefore, advertising businesses can have a particularly positive impact on sales.

Another significant advantage is increased online visibility. One reason for this is that a business can become visible to a wider audience. People will become aware of its products and services. This means that having an online presence can be very effective for any business. For example, if a company offers certain services or products, people need to know about them, and advertising can help increase its reach. Consequently, having an online presence can contribute considerably to brand awareness, further strengthening the case for advertising businesses.

In conclusion, while advertising businesses may have some drawbacks, I believe that it represents an overall positive development. The benefits it provides in terms of increasing sales and improving online visibility are likely to have a lasting positive impact on businesses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt, but it fails to engage with the specific core of the question: why businesses emphasize that products are 'new'. The essay discusses the general benefits of advertising (sales and visibility) rather than the specific strategy of 'newness' or innovation. Consequently, the ideas are somewhat generic and do not fully develop the 'why' aspect of the prompt. While a clear position is maintained, the lack of focus on the specific nature of the advertising strategy limits the depth of the response. To improve, ensure that every paragraph directly relates to the specific premise provided in the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a topic sentence, and the transition between the introduction, body, and conclusion is smooth. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical (e.g., 'The most significant advantage', 'Another significant advantage', 'Consequently'). While the structure is easy to follow, the lack of varied linking words and the somewhat simplistic flow of ideas prevent it from reaching a higher band. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. The student relies on basic, repetitive phrasing such as 'increase sales', 'advertising businesses', and 'effective solution'. There is little attempt to use less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions. While the meaning is always clear and there are no significant spelling errors, the vocabulary remains at a functional level. To achieve a higher score, the student should incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations related to marketing and consumer behavior.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is never impeded, there is a lack of variety in sentence construction. Most sentences follow a standard subject-verb-object pattern. There are minor issues, such as the opening phrase 'advertising businesses has become', which is slightly awkward in context. The control of punctuation is good, and the errors present are infrequent and do not cause confusion. To improve, the student should experiment with more complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions.

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