Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
Global fashion trends have become a major influence on the way people dress today. This is mainly because of social media, international brands and the increasing connection between different countries. In my view, this is a largely positive development, although it also has some disadvantages.
One major reason why global fashion has become so influential is the rapid growth of social media. Platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok allow people to see new clothing styles from different parts of the world within seconds. Celebrities and influencers also promote particular brands and styles, which can encourage their followers to adopt similar trends. In addition, international fashion companies are now able to sell their products in many countries through online shopping. As a result, people have access to a much wider range of clothes than in the past.
I believe this development has several positive effects. Firstly, people can explore different cultures and express their personalities through clothing. For example, young people in India can easily adopt styles that are popular in Europe, Korea or other parts of the world. Secondly, global competition between fashion companies provides consumers with more choices and different price ranges. However, following fashion trends can sometimes encourage people to buy clothes they do not really need, which can lead to unnecessary spending and environmental problems.
In conclusion, global fashion has become a strong influence mainly because of social media, online shopping and international brands. Although it can encourage excessive consumption, I believe its ability to provide greater choice and allow people to express themselves makes it a generally positive development.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student fully addresses all parts of the two-part prompt. In the introduction, a clear position is established ('this is a largely positive development, although it also has some disadvantages'), which is maintained throughout the essay. The first body paragraph effectively explains how global fashion has gained influence through social media, online shopping, and international brands. The second body paragraph balances the discussion by exploring both positive effects, such as cultural exploration and increased consumer choice, and a negative aspect, namely unnecessary spending and environmental issues. Ideas are well-extended and supported with relevant examples, such as young people in India adopting international styles. This performance aligns well with the Band 7 descriptor.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction sets the background and thesis, the first body paragraph discusses causes, the second body paragraph weighs positives against negatives, and the conclusion neatly summarises the main points. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, as seen in transition phrases like 'One major reason', 'In addition', 'As a result', and 'However'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the essay is easy to follow from start to finish. This earns a solid Band 7 for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, suitable for an academic response. Appropriate topic-specific vocabulary and collocations are integrated naturally, including 'global fashion trends', 'international fashion companies', 'cultural exploration', and 'excessive consumption'. The student also attempts less common items like 'unnecessary spending' and 'environmental problems' with good control. Word choice and spelling are consistently accurate, and while it does not quite reach the highly sophisticated range required for a Band 8, it easily surpasses Band 6 by demonstrating good awareness of style and collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay displays a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentence forms. The student successfully incorporates subordinate clauses, such as 'Platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok allow people to see...' and 'although it also has some disadvantages.' There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout. The minor errors that sometimes characterise a Band 7 are virtually absent here, as the sentence structures are controlled and grammatically sound, facilitating smooth communication. This performance merits a strong Band 7.5.
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