Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-17

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, many companies highlight the new features of their products in advertisment. This is mainly because they want to attract customer and stay ahead of their competitor. In my opinion, this is largely a nagative development it can encourage unnecessary spending. Although it can also introduce useful innovations.

To begin with, there are several reson why business focus on newness of their prouducts. Firstly, customers are often attracted to new design, modern technoogy and imrpoved featurs. For example, mobile phone companies regularly advertise better camera, processor and bettery timing to persuade customers to buy their items. Secondly, businesses face strong competitor, so need to luminous their prouducts in diifernt ways. By presenting new or unique to attract public attention and increase sales. As a result, this stratergy help companies to overcome their competitior and earn more profit and strengthen their position in the market.

However, I belive this is a negative trend because it encourages people to purchase things they do not actually need. Many customers replace their phones, cloths or household appliances simply because a newer version is available. Even they older items work properly. These waste products are harmful to environment because they are not properly dumped. Therefore, The impact of the trend depends on whether the adverstising changes provides real benefits or just simply waste of money.

IN conclusion, although, this approche can promote useful innovation for customers. But i belive it is generally a neagtive devlopment because it encourages unnecessary consumption and increase environmental waster.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both parts of the prompt: you explain that businesses promote new features to attract customers and compete, and you give a clear view that this is generally negative because it encourages unnecessary purchases and waste. The phone example is relevant, and the environmental consequence supports your position. However, several points remain brief or unclear. For instance, the claim that advertising can promote useful innovation is mentioned but not explained, and the reasons businesses emphasise newness could be developed with a clearer explanation of how novelty increases sales. The response is also one word below the required minimum. Develop both sides with specific explanation and examples, while keeping your overall position consistent.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph explaining business motives, a paragraph presenting your view, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “To begin with,” “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “However” help signal the stages of the argument. Overall, the ideas are arranged coherently, but some connections are awkward or incomplete. For example, “By presenting new or unique to attract public attention” is a fragment, so the relationship between competition and increased sales is not fully expressed. The final paragraph also repeats the negative position without smoothly connecting it to the concession about innovation. Use complete sentences and clearer references between ideas to make progression less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “new features,” “modern technology,” “attract public attention,” “unnecessary spending,” and “environment.” This gives you enough language to communicate the main argument. However, spelling errors and imprecise or unnatural word choices are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause: examples include “advertisment,” “luminous,” “diifernt,” and “environmental waster.” Some phrases also need more natural collocation, such as “better battery timing” and “strong competitor.” Aim to check spelling carefully and choose precise expressions for business competition, product improvements, and environmental effects. A wider range of accurately used topic vocabulary would make the argument clearer and more convincing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “because they want to attract customer” and a contrast introduced by “Although.” The main meaning is generally recoverable, but there are frequent problems with sentence construction and agreement. “Although it can also introduce useful innovations” is an incomplete sentence, while “By presenting new or unique…” lacks a clear subject and main verb. Agreement and number are also inconsistent, as in “this strategy help” and “businesses face strong competitor.” The sentence beginning “Even they older items work properly” is not grammatically formed. Practise building complete clauses, checking subject–verb agreement and plurals, and using punctuation to separate complete sentences.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.