Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-05

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 6.5)

Nowadays, businesses often highlight the new features of their products in advertisements. This is mainly because they want to attract customers and increase their profits. I believe this is a negative development because people may buy products that they do not really need.

One reason why businesses emphasise that their products are new is to attract more customers. This is because customers are usually interested in new products and are more likely to purchase them. For example, when a company launches a new smartphone with improved features, customers may be attracted to purchase it even if their current phone is still working well. As a result, businesses can increase their sales and profits. Therefore, describing products as new is an effective way for companies to encourage people to buy them. Another reason is that businesses want to compete with other companies. This is because new products can attract more customers than older products. As a result, businesses can maintain their position in the market and remain competitive.

However, I believe this is a negative development because it can encourage unnecessary purchases. People may buy products that they do not actually need simply because they are advertised as new or improved. For example, people may buy a new smartphone simply because various new features have been added. Therefore, people may face financial difficulties because they spend money on products that they do not really need. This can also encourage a habit of excessive consumption.

In conclusion, businesses emphasise new products mainly to attract customers, increase profits and compete with other companies. However, I believe this is a negative development because it can encourage people to spend money on unnecessary products.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing reasons for the emphasis on 'newness' in advertising and clearly stating a position that this is a negative development. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the discussion on consumer behavior and financial strain. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; the argument regarding smartphones is used in both the second and third paragraphs, which limits the depth of the analysis. To reach a higher band, you should aim to broaden your supporting arguments beyond a single example and explore the societal or economic implications in more detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You make good use of cohesive devices such as 'However,' 'Therefore,' and 'As a result.' While the structure is effective, the transitions between sentences can feel slightly mechanical at times, relying heavily on simple 'This is because' structures. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and integrate ideas more fluidly to avoid a repetitive sentence-by-sentence structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use topic-specific terms like 'excessive consumption,' 'market,' and 'competitive.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic vocabulary such as 'new,' 'products,' and 'buy.' To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations. For example, instead of repeating 'new products,' you could use 'innovative offerings,' 'cutting-edge technology,' or 'novel items.' The word choice is accurate, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good level of grammatical control. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. Punctuation is generally accurate, and your meaning is always clear. While the grammar is reliable, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited; most sentences follow a similar subject-verb-object pattern. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of subordinate clauses, conditional sentences, or passive constructions to demonstrate greater flexibility in your writing.

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