Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-07

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)

It is common observation that clothing choices of people reflect worldwide fashion trends. This scenario is rising because of social media applications have turned the world into a global village. I think that it is a negative development because it results in the loss of distinct local cultures and causes psychological and financial stress to those who try to keep pace with changing styles.

First of all, global fashion spreads rapidly through digital platforms, shifting people away from traditional attire. In the past, communities preserved regional dress codes passed down by ancestors. Today, social media algorithms expose users daily to international trends promoted by online influencers. Consequently, younger generations increasingly abandon native garments in favor of fast-fashion styles, as seen during recent cultural festivals where traditional outfits like the Shalwar Kameez are worn by far fewer people

In addition to that, it also results in mental diseases. People who try to keep them up-to-date with new fashion bear both financial issues and choices issues. Applications like TikTok present new designs everyday. These clothes are often very expensive but person does not consider it while buying due to its craziness about fashion but, finds it bad when monthly budget is affected, resulting in pressure on mind. For instance, there is rise in patients of migraine, and other brain diseases due to this psyche.

In conclusion, while social media makes the world a small place, global fashion trends do more harm than good. They erase unique local clothes and create heavy money and mental stress for people. Societies should value their traditional wear instead of chasing fast-moving online styles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed both parts of the prompt: explaining the influence of global fashion and providing a clear opinion on whether it is a positive or negative development. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant, particularly the mention of social media and the loss of cultural identity. However, the development of the second body paragraph is somewhat weak; the link between fashion choices and 'brain diseases' like migraine is an over-generalisation and lacks logical depth. To reach a higher band, ensure your supporting arguments are more grounded in realistic social or economic impacts rather than extreme medical claims.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'In addition to that', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as in the sentence 'person does not consider it while buying due to its craziness'. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your ideas, including terms like 'global village', 'traditional attire', and 'fast-fashion'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'mental diseases' (which is not the standard term for stress-related issues) and 'craziness about fashion'. Additionally, the phrase 'keep them up-to-date' is slightly awkward. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic phrasing. Your spelling is generally accurate, but the vocabulary lacks the sophistication required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('a person', 'the rise'), subject-verb agreement issues ('social media applications have turned' is correct, but 'person does not consider' is incorrect), and awkward phrasing ('there is rise in patients'). Punctuation is mostly functional, but there are some errors in comma usage. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for more error-free complex sentences and pay closer attention to articles and pluralisation.

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

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