Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-31

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 5.5)

Nowadays, businesses often emphasise that them their products are new or improved in their advertisements. This is a common marketing strategy, but it can have both positive and negative effects.

One important advantage is that advertising new features can encourage companies to develop better products. In order to attract customers, businesses and performance of their goods. For example, mobile phone companies regularly advertise improved cameras, longer-lasting batteries and faster processors. This competition benefits consumers because they can choose from more advanced products. In addition, new products may make people's lives easier. Modern washing machines, for instance, use less water and electricity than older models.

However, this trend can also encourage unnecessary consumption. Some advertisements make small changes seem extremely important, causing people to replace products that are still useful. To cite an example, a person may buy a new smartphone simply because it has a slightly better camera, even though their existing phone works well. This can lead to financial problems and creates more electronic waste. Furthermore, some companies use words "new" and " improved" only to attract attention, although the actual difference may be very limited.

To sum up, emphasizing new features in advertising can be beneficial because it promotes innovation and gives consumers improved choices. Nevertheless, it may also lead to wasteful spending and excessive consumption.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: explaining why businesses emphasize 'newness' and evaluating whether this is positive or negative. However, the response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement (218 words), which limits the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, the discussion of why businesses use this strategy is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why'—perhaps discussing the psychological impact of novelty on consumer desire or the competitive necessity of staying relevant in a saturated market. The conclusion is clear, but the overall lack of length prevents a more thorough exploration of the arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition,' 'However,' and 'To cite an example.' However, the transition between the first and second body paragraph could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent. To improve, ensure that your linking words are varied and that you avoid repetitive sentence structures, which can sometimes make the flow feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'marketing strategy,' 'unnecessary consumption,' and 'electronic waste' appropriately. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey your meaning. However, the range is somewhat limited; you rely on fairly common descriptors. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to business and consumerism, such as 'planned obsolescence,' 'market saturation,' or 'consumer behavior.' The current vocabulary is functional but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound, though there are a few minor errors, such as 'them their products' in the opening sentence and the missing verb in 'businesses and performance of their goods.' These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a lack of full control over complex structures. To improve, focus on proofreading to catch small slips and aim to integrate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive constructions, while maintaining accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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