Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-18

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)

In today’s interconnected world, global fashion trends play a defining role in shaping how people dress across different cultures and regions. This widespread influence is primarily driven by mass media and fast-fashion supply chains, and I believe this shift is largely negative as it erodes cultural identity and fuels environmental degradation.

Global fashion has gained unprecedented influence mainly due to social media, digital advertising, and e-commerce. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok allow celebrity styles, influencer outfits, and runway trends to go viral instantly, exposing millions of users worldwide to identical aesthetic standards. Simultaneously, fast-fashion retailers leverage efficient global supply chains to mass-produce cheap imitations of these trends within days. Consequently, individuals anywhere in the world can easily view, desire, and purchase the exact same clothing items, creating a synchronized global wardrobe.

In my view, this rise of global fashion is a overwhelmingly negative development for two main reasons. Culturally, the homogenization of attire leads to the loss of traditional clothing styles and heritage. In many nations, traditional garments worn for daily life or special occasions are increasingly being abandoned in favor of Western-style streetwear, denim, and fast fashion, diluting rich regional identity and cultural diversity.

Equally concerning are the severe environmental and ethical consequences of this phenomenon. The relentless demand to keep up with rapidly shifting global trends encourages a throwaway culture, where clothes are discarded after only a few wears. This hyper-consumption generates massive amounts of textile waste in landfills, relies heavily on non-renewable synthetic fibers, and relies on cheap, often underpaid labor in developing countries. The planetary and human cost of maintaining global sartorial uniformity far outweighs any superficial benefits of convenience or modern aesthetic appeal.

In conclusion, global fashion has attained its dominant status through the powerful combination of digital media and ultra-fast manufacturing. However, this trend is ultimately damaging, as it strips societies of their unique cultural expressions while accelerating ecological damage and labor exploitation worldwide.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt in a well-developed and balanced manner. The student investigates the causes of global fashion's influence—specifically citing social media, digital advertising, and fast-fashion supply chains—and clearly articulates a position on whether this is a positive or negative development, arguing that it is largely negative due to cultural homogenization and environmental degradation. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples and logical reasoning throughout the essay. The stance is maintained consistently from the introduction to the conclusion, satisfying the highest standards for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently sequenced, with each paragraph serving a distinct purpose in developing the overall argument. Cohesive devices such as 'Simultaneously', 'Consequently', and 'Equally concerning' are used flexibly and appropriately without being obtrusive. Paragraphing is managed skilfully, separating the introduction, causes, two distinct negative impacts, and the conclusion logically. Referencing and substitution are handled smoothly, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the progression of thoughts from one sentence to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student exhibits a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range that is highly appropriate for an academic response. Sophisticated phrasing such as 'interconnected world', 'unprecedented influence', 'homogenization of attire', 'throwaway culture', and 'sartorial uniformity' demonstrates a strong command of uncommon lexical items. Word choice and collocations are generally precise, though there is a minor grammatical slip in the third paragraph with the phrase 'is a overwhelmingly negative development' (using 'a' instead of 'an'). Overall, the vocabulary effectively conveys precise shades of meaning without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing features a wide variety of complex structures deployed with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, utilizing advanced subordinate clauses, participial phrases ('mass-produce cheap imitations of these trends within days'), and well-controlled compound structures. Punctuation is accurate throughout, and grammatical control is robust. Only a single minor article error ('a overwhelmingly negative development') occurs, which counts as a very occasional non-systematic slip that does not detract from the overall high quality of grammatical range and control.

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