Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-22

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)

Businesses nowadays try to add some new functions or facilities in their advertisement as they emphasize their products to be different from others. This is because, they want to attract a wide range of customers. Additionally, I believe this as a positive development, because when business owners try to be different, then they add new service or facility within the product and ultimately customers can get benefit from that.

Firstly, talking about the different strategies and methods that businesses use to market their products is to attract a wide range of customers. In other words, the one to reach to the large group of customers and attract them by using a creative method of advertisement. Most of the time they offer additional services or benefits along with the product. As a result, customers get attracted and choose their products over its competitors. For example, a furniture company with provides an expert to recommend the best way to place the furniture in their house along with the product, generally get the better attention of the customers.

I personally believe this as a positive development, because people can get more benefits as business owners try to be different from others. This is because, mini companies nowadays are looking for various methods of promoting and attracting the customers, so they add additional service or product in the original product. They also attract customers by giving them discounts or launching a campaign of grand prize for a lucky winner. As a result, customers can get value for their price. For instance, an electronic company multiply it sales by launching an offer of grand prize to one of the lucky customer.

To conclude, many companies are adapting different creative methods and strategies to attract to a wide range of customers which I believe is a positive development. This is because, customers can get benefit and value for their price.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, exploring why businesses emphasise that their products are new and evaluating whether this is a positive or negative development. The writer maintains a clear position throughout, stating that it is a positive development because customers gain additional benefits and value. Ideas are extended with examples, such as a furniture company providing an expert advisor and an electronic company launching a grand prize campaign. However, some of the explanations feel slightly repetitive, particularly the reasoning behind why it is a positive development, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Overall, all parts of the task are addressed competently, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor criteria.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, separating the introduction, body paragraphs for each part of the prompt, and a conclusion. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical and faulty. Phrases like 'Firstly, talking about the different strategies...' and 'This is because, mini companies...' disrupt the natural flow. Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in awkward transitions like 'the one to reach to the large group of customers.' Paragraph divisions are used appropriately, but cohesive devices are occasionally over-used or inaccurate, placing this response firmly in the Band 6 category.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'strategy', 'competitors', and 'grand prize'. However, there are noticeable word-choice and collocation errors that prevent a higher score, such as 'multiply it sales' instead of 'multiply its sales', 'mini companies' instead of 'many companies', and 'get the better attention' rather than 'attract more attention'. Spelling is generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication, making this a solid Band 6 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over structure. There are, however, several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing choices throughout the text. Examples include missing articles or incorrect prepositions, such as 'add some new functions or facilities in their advertisement as they emphasize their products to be different' and 'a furniture company with provides an expert'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors are present, they rarely impede overall communication, fitting the requirements of Band 6.

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

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