Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-26
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 7.5)
Global fashion trends have become a strong influence on the way people dress today. This is mainly because of social media, international brands and easier global communication. In my opinion, although this development has some disadvantages, it is generally positive.
One major reason for the influence of global fashion is the widespread use of social media. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok allow people to see clothing styles from different countries almost instantly. Celebrities and influencers can also make certain styles popular among millions of people. In addition, international fashion brands are now available in many countries, making global trends more accessible to ordinary consumers.
There are several benefits to this development. People have more choices and can experiment with different styles to express their personality. Global fashion can also encourage cultural exchange because people become familiar with clothing and designs from other countries. For example, young people may combine international fashion trends with traditional clothing from their own culture, creating a unique personal style.
However, there are also some negative effects. People may feel pressured to follow the latest trends in order to fit in or appear fashionable. This can lead to unnecessary spending and excessive consumption of clothing. Nevertheless, I believe these problems can be reduced if consumers make sensible choices and avoid buying things simply because they are popular.
In conclusion, global fashion has become influential mainly because of social media, international brands and global communication. Although it can create pressure to follow trends, I believe the greater choice, self-expression and cultural exchange it provides make it a positive development overall.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying the drivers of global fashion (social media, international brands) and providing a clear stance on whether it is a positive or negative development. The ideas are relevant and logically extended. For example, the explanation of how social media and influencers drive trends is well-supported. The discussion on the benefits (self-expression, cultural exchange) and drawbacks (consumerism, pressure) is balanced. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, concrete examples of how global fashion has impacted a particular society or demographic, rather than keeping the examples somewhat general.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow of the argument is consistent, making the essay easy to follow from start to finish. The use of transition words is natural and contributes to the overall coherence of the piece.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses terms like 'widespread use', 'accessible', 'excessive consumption', and 'cultural exchange' accurately. While the range is adequate for the topic, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would demonstrate a wider, more flexible range. The word choice is precise enough to convey the intended meaning without error, but the essay relies on fairly standard vocabulary. Incorporating more nuanced collocations or academic synonyms would elevate the lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. For instance, the use of conditional structures and complex sentences like 'Although this development has some disadvantages, it is generally positive' shows good control. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. While the structures are sound, the essay does not consistently demonstrate the 'wide range' of complex structures required for the highest bands. However, the writing is error-free for the most part, which is a strong indicator of grammatical competence.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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