Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-26

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Many aspects of the way people dress today are influenced by global fashion trends.

How has global fashion become such a strong influence on people's lives? Do you think this 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 8.0)

In recent years, the way people dress has been increasingly shaped by global fashion trends. With the rise of technology and international connectivity, fashion influences now spread rapidly across borders. While this development has several advantages, I believe it also has some negative consequences.

One major reason why global fashion has become so influential is the expansion of social media and the internet. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and fashion blogs allow celebrities, influencers, and brands to showcase new styles instantly to a worldwide audience. As a result, people, especially young individuals, are constantly exposed to the latest trends and feel encouraged to follow them. In addition, the growth of multinational clothing brands has made global fashion more accessible. International retailers offer similar styles in different countries, making it easier for people to adopt trends regardless of their location.

Another factor is globalization itself, which has led to cultural exchange on a massive scale. People are now more open to adopting styles from different cultures, blending traditional and modern elements in their clothing. This has made fashion more dynamic and diverse, further strengthening its influence on everyday life.

Despite these benefits, I believe the overall impact of global fashion trends is somewhat negative. One key issue is the loss of cultural identity. As people increasingly follow international styles, traditional clothing and local designs may become less popular, leading to a decline in cultural heritage. Moreover, the pressure to keep up with ever-changing trends can encourage materialism and unnecessary spending, particularly among young people. Fast fashion, driven by global demand, also contributes to environmental problems such as waste and pollution.

In conclusion, global fashion has become a powerful influence due to social media, international brands, and cultural exchange. Although it promotes diversity and accessibility, its negative effects on cultural identity, consumer behavior, and the environment make it a largely unfavorable development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt clearly. You identify the drivers of global fashion (social media, globalization) and provide a balanced view before taking a clear stance that the influence is negative. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the discussion on cultural identity and environmental impact. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, concrete examples—for instance, mentioning a specific type of traditional garment that has been replaced by Western styles or a specific fast-fashion environmental issue—to further extend your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the role of technology or the negative impacts of fast fashion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition,' 'Despite these benefits,' and 'Moreover,' to guide the reader through your arguments. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the positive aspects and the negative consequences is handled well, ensuring a coherent flow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases like 'international connectivity,' 'cultural exchange,' and 'unfavorable development' show a solid command of language. You use topic-specific vocabulary well, such as 'fast fashion' and 'materialism.' While the vocabulary is accurate and natural, it is generally standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of lexical items, though your current usage is precise and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'As people increasingly follow international styles, traditional clothing... may become less popular.' The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing good control over tense and subject-verb agreement. To move toward a band 8 or 9, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as inversion or more advanced conditional forms, to show greater flexibility.

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