Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-17

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 7.0)

Global fashion trends have become an important part of modern life, and people in many countries now dress in similar styles. This influence has grown mainly because of social media, international brands, and increased global communication. Although this development has some disadvantages, I believe that it is generally positive because it gives people more choices and allows different cultures to influence one another.

One of the main reasons why global fashion has become so influential is the rapid growth of social media and online platforms. People can now see the clothes worn by celebrities, influencers and other users from different parts of the world within seconds. As a result, new fashion trends can spread internationally much faster than in the past. In addition, international clothing brands use social media advertising to reach millions of potential customers. For example, a particular style of clothing can become popular among young people in Asia shortly after being promoted by a famous influencer in Europe or North America.

Another important factor is the increasing availability of international brands. Many global companies have expanded their businesses into different countries, while online shopping has made it possible for people to purchase clothes from foreign markets without travelling abroad. Consequently, consumers have access to a much wider variety of styles, colours and designs than previous generations. Furthermore, international travel and cultural exchange have encouraged people to adopt clothing styles from other countries.

I believe this is largely a positive development. Firstly, global fashion provides people with greater freedom to express their personalities and preferences. People are no longer restricted to traditional styles that are commonly worn in their local communities. Secondly, fashion can help create connections between people from different cultural backgrounds. For instance, young people in different countries may wear similar clothing and follow the same trends, which can give them a sense of belonging to a wider international community.

However, there are also some negative effects. Excessive interest in global fashion can encourage people to buy new clothes unnecessarily, contributing to consumerism and environmental problems. In addition, some traditional forms of clothing may become less popular as younger generations adopt international trends. Nevertheless, these disadvantages can be reduced through responsible consumption and by continuing to promote traditional cultural clothing.

In conclusion, global fashion has become a powerful influence because of social media, international brands, online shopping and greater cultural exchange. Although it can encourage excessive consumption and reduce interest in traditional clothing, I believe its overall impact is positive because it provides greater choice and promotes cultural interaction.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. The student clearly explains why global fashion has become influential, citing social media, international brands, and online shopping, and clearly states and supports a position regarding whether this is positive or negative. Ideas are well developed with relevant examples, such as the rapid spread of trends in Asia and Europe, and the discussion balances both benefits and drawbacks before firmly concluding. This performance easily aligns with the Band 8 descriptor, as the prompt is thoroughly explored and well supported throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with the causes in the second and third paragraphs, moving to the positive evaluation in the fourth, addressing the counterarguments in the fifth, and providing a concise summary in the conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally without being intrusive, such as 'In addition', 'Consequently', 'Furthermore', and 'Firstly'. Paragraphing is fully appropriate and managed skilfully, fully supporting the Band 7 and edging into Band 8 capabilities.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student exhibits a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion on fashion and consumerism. Less common lexical items are used appropriately, such as 'consumerism', 'preferences', 'environmental problems', and 'cultural exchange'. Word choices and collocations are generally accurate, and phrases like 'rapid growth' and 'wider variety of styles' demonstrate natural control. Although there are occasional standard vocabulary choices rather than exceptionally sophisticated uncommon items, the range is strong and communicates ideas precisely, fully justifying a Band 7 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a wide variety of complex structures with good control. Sentences like 'Although this development has some disadvantages, I believe that it is generally positive because...' and 'People are no longer restricted to traditional styles that are commonly worn...' display excellent syntactic flexibility. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There are only very rare minor slips, which matches the high-level criteria where grammar does not impede communication in any way.

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