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)

It is an undeniable fact that, businesses often emphasise their products are new and innovative in the advertisement. This is mainly because companies want to attract customers. In my opinion, although this trend has some advantages, it is largely a positive development, and this essay will discuss my stands with relevant reasons and examples.

To begin with, the main reason for highlighting new products is to capture consumers' attention. To elaborate, individuals are generally curious about new features, improved designs, and modern technology. Moreover, businesses operate in a highly comparative environment therefore presenting a product can help a company stand out from its rivals. For example, smartphones companies in Japan frequently promote new models with smart cameras, faster processors, and additional features.

Another positive aspect is that this approach can encourage companies to improve their products. In order to advertise something as genuinely new, businesses often invest in research and development. This can lead to better technology and improve quality for consumers. For instance, manufactures of household appliances have introduce energy-efficient refrigerators and washing machines.

However, excessive emphasis on novelty can encourage unnecessary consumption. Some advertisement creates the impression people need to replace perfectly functional products simply because newer versions are available. This can increase chores expenses and contribute to electronic waste. Therefore, consumers should consider whether a new product provides meaningful improvements before purchasing it.

In conclusion, businesses emphasise novelty mainly to attract customers and gain profit. Although this can promote consumerism, I believe its benefits, particularly innovation and improved product quality, outweigh its drawback.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing reasons for why businesses emphasize newness and offering a clear opinion on whether this is positive or negative. The position is consistent throughout. Ideas are generally well-developed, such as the discussion on research and development leading to better quality, and the counter-argument regarding unnecessary consumption. However, some points could be extended further to reach a higher band; for instance, the link between 'smartphones' and 'innovation' is clear, but the argument could benefit from more nuanced analysis of the psychological impact of marketing on consumer behavior to fully explore the 'why' behind the trend.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, such as 'To begin with, the main reason...' and 'Another positive aspect is...'. Cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'For instance', and 'However' are used effectively to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate. While the flow is logical, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes standard; incorporating a wider variety of linking phrases or more sophisticated referencing could enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning with some precision. You use relevant topic-specific terms such as 'innovative', 'comparative environment', 'research and development', and 'unnecessary consumption'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'chores expenses' (likely meaning 'household expenses') and 'manufactures' (should be 'manufacturers'). While the range is adequate for the task, it lacks the more sophisticated, less common lexical items that would characterize a higher band score. The vocabulary is generally accurate, and errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'In order to advertise something as genuinely new, businesses often invest in research and development.' However, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'businesses often emphasise their products are new... in the advertisement' (missing 'advertisements' or 'advertising') and 'manufactures... have introduce' (should be 'have introduced'). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are occasional errors in subject-verb agreement and pluralization. These errors are noticeable but do not significantly impede the reader's understanding.

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

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