Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people think that the fictional violence portrayed on television is harmless entertainment. Others disagree and think that it encourages violent behaviour.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Some people believe that violence depicted in fictional television programmes is merely a form of harmless entertainment, while others argue that it can encourage aggressive and violent behaviour in viewers. Although violent content can serve as entertainment and does not necessarily make people violent, I believe that excessive exposure to such material, particularly among children, can negatively influence attitudes and behaviour.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why fictional violence may be considered harmless entertainment. Firstly, most viewers understand the distinction between fiction and reality. They watch action films, crime dramas and other violent programmes for excitement, suspense or amusement rather than as a guide to real-life behaviour. For example, superhero films frequently contain highly unrealistic fighting scenes, yet the majority of viewers do not attempt to imitate these actions. Secondly, fictional violence can sometimes be used to communicate meaningful messages. A television series may portray the consequences of crime or violence in order to highlight their destructive effects on individuals and society. Therefore, it would be unreasonable to assume that every person who watches violent programmes will become more aggressive.

On the other hand, there is convincing evidence that repeated exposure to violent content can influence behaviour, especially among young people. Children may not have sufficient maturity to distinguish between fictional entertainment and acceptable real-world behaviour. If they repeatedly see characters using violence to solve problems or achieve their goals, they may gradually regard aggression as an acceptable response to conflict. Furthermore, some programmes present violent characters as powerful, successful or admirable, which can make such behaviour appear attractive. This is particularly concerning when violent scenes are shown without any realistic consequences, as viewers may develop a reduced sensitivity towards suffering and aggression.

In my opinion, fictional violence is not inherently harmful because its effect depends largely on the viewer, the context and the amount of exposure. However, excessive exposure can contribute to aggressive attitudes, particularly among children and adolescents. Parents should therefore monitor the content their children watch, while television producers should avoid glorifying violence unnecessarily.

In conclusion, fictional violence can undoubtedly provide harmless entertainment and can even convey important messages. Nevertheless, repeated exposure to glorified violence may encourage aggressive attitudes in some viewers. For this reason, I believe that its potential negative influence should not be ignored.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the view that fictional violence is harmless and the counter-argument that it encourages aggression—while maintaining a consistent and well-developed personal opinion throughout. The ideas are extended with logical reasoning and relevant examples, such as the distinction between fiction and reality and the impact of media on children. The position is clear from the introduction and is consistently supported in the body paragraphs and the conclusion. The response is well-balanced and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two opposing views is handled smoothly using cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Nevertheless'. Referencing is clear, and the use of cohesive devices is flexible and natural. The paragraphing is logical, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs exploring the arguments, a paragraph for your own opinion, and a concise conclusion. The flow of information is seamless, making the essay very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases like 'excessive exposure', 'distinguish between fictional entertainment and acceptable real-world behaviour', and 'reduced sensitivity towards suffering' show a high level of lexical control. You use less common items effectively, such as 'inherently', 'glorifying', and 'destructive effects', which contribute to a sophisticated tone. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is consistently appropriate for an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as conditional structures ('If they repeatedly see...') and concessive clauses ('Although violent content can serve as entertainment...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and verb tenses is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and the variety of sentence forms used demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.

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