Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-05
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 5.5)
Several elements of the way an individual dresses up in recent times is influenced by international fashion trends. The reason being, increased time spent on social media and the rising tourism around the world. I think this is a positive development because people can adapt to new cultures by acknowledging new attire.
Today, many people are impacted by the global vogue of attire. The main sources of exposure to new fashion styles are social media and international fashion shows casting on television. For instance, many social media influencers around the world post their content wearing their nation's attire like Indian, Chinese, Korean and several more. In addition to that, international fashion shows performed in different countries expose their citizens to different ways of dressing up. Today's generation is very much likely to get influenced by new style because of time they spend on the online platforms and their curiosity to know about foreign fashion trends.
I am inclined to believe that, this kind of influence brings a positive development among people because they can familiarize themselves with various cultures around the globe. It can be a way of accepting a new people among each other
In conclusion, new fashion trends impact strongly on how people dress up which is a positive development. The adaptation to international attire can bring different cultures together.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt, identifying causes and expressing a clear opinion. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. While the ideas regarding social media and cultural exchange are relevant, they are not fully extended. The arguments remain somewhat superficial, and the lack of length prevents a more thorough exploration of the impact of global fashion. To improve, you should aim to provide more detailed examples and elaborate on the consequences of your arguments to meet the word count and demonstrate a higher level of critical thinking.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. There is a basic progression of ideas; however, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In addition to that', 'In conclusion'). The transition between the causes of fashion influence and the evaluation of whether it is positive is functional but could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow would benefit from a wider variety of linking words and more sophisticated paragraph transitions to guide the reader more effectively through your argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'international fashion trends', 'social media influencers', and 'familiarize'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'dresses up in recent times' (should be 'dresses') and 'casting on television' (should be 'broadcast on'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and less common lexical items to express your ideas with greater nuance and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('Several elements... is influenced' should be 'are influenced') and awkward phrasing ('accepting a new people among each other'). While these errors do not typically impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall fluency. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate more consistent control over complex structures and ensure that your grammar is accurate, particularly regarding pluralization and prepositional usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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