Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-28
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)
The choice of dressing today is influenced by global fashion norms. And its because of social media that people all around the world are aware of what is in trend right now and they start to follow what a celebrity or model is wearing. I believe it is a negative development as fashion brands are the ones that pay these famous influencers to wear their clothes and sell clothes for a high price not everyone can afford.
In today's world TikTok, Instagram and Facebook have linked people to each other what trends in one country gets popular in other as well weather its a perfume, shoe or even a jacket people around the world know names of their brand. lets take under armor for example people around the world know the name of this clothing brand designed for casual clothing became a trend for gym wear as promoted by fashion models.
In contrast, those people who do not have enough money spend their savings to blindly follow clothing brand that is trending over social media. The reason is that they feel left behind in their group meanwhile alternative cheap cloths are also available in market. But when these brands use social media and influencers to promote their clothes the followers who like them also purchase it and create wearing that brand trend or a way to represent status.
In conclusion, today we are highly influenced by global fashion trends and its not even about comfort or design it has become our identity a way to represent our value socially over digital platforms and brands are taking full advantage by making us think that we would get left behind if we don't stick with them.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the influence of global fashion and the writer's opinion on whether it is a positive or negative development. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While the role of social media is identified, the explanation of why this is a 'negative' development relies heavily on the idea of financial strain and social pressure. To reach a higher band, you should provide more nuanced arguments or explore the broader societal implications of this influence beyond just personal spending habits. The examples provided, such as 'Under Armour', are relevant but could be integrated more smoothly into the argument.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. There is a progression of ideas from the influence of social media to the economic impact on individuals. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'nevertheless') rather than relying on simple conjunctions. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the transition in the second paragraph regarding 'what trends in one country gets popular'. Improving the flow between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You use common terms like 'clothes', 'brand', and 'popular' repeatedly. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'influencers' and 'digital platforms', the overall range is limited. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'create wearing that brand trend' and 'weather its a perfume', which should be 'whether it is'. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated synonyms and collocations related to consumerism and social influence.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in market' instead of 'in the market'), punctuation errors (e.g., run-on sentences and missing commas), and subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'what trends... gets popular'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence boundary control and ensuring consistent use of articles and verb forms will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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