Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-24

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)

It is often argued that fictional violence portrayed on television is merely a harmless form of entertainment, whereas others contend that repeated exposure to such content can encourage violent behaviour. Although there are valid arguments on both sides, I believe that fictional violence is generally harmless because most viewers can distinguish between fictional scenes and real-life behaviour.

On the one hand, fictional violence can be considered a legitimate form of entertainment because it is presented within an imaginary context. Most viewers understand that the characters, conflicts and violent scenes they watch are scripted rather than real. Therefore, watching an action film does not necessarily make people aggressive or encourage them to behave violently in everyday life. For example, superhero films such as those produced by Marvel frequently contain exaggerated battles and violent scenes, yet audiences generally enjoy these as part of the fictional storyline rather than attempting to imitate them. In this sense, fictional violence can provide excitement and emotional engagement without directly influencing people's behaviour.

On the other hand, there are legitimate concerns about the potential negative effects of violent television content, particularly on children and impressionable viewers. Young people may not always have sufficient maturity to distinguish completely between fictional behaviour and appropriate conduct in real life. Repeated exposure to aggressive scenes could therefore make violence appear more normal and, in some cases, encourage imitation. For instance, *Crime Patrol* is primarily intended to raise public awareness about criminal activities and their consequences. However, some viewers may misuse the information presented in the programme, learning from the methods depicted and potentially applying them for harmful purposes. Nevertheless, such cases are likely to be limited, and television violence alone cannot be considered a direct cause of criminal or aggressive behaviour, as family background, education and peer influence also play important roles.

In conclusion, although fictional violence may have some negative influence, particularly on impressionable young viewers, I believe that it is primarily a form of entertainment and does not generally encourage violent behaviour. Most people are capable of distinguishing fictional portrayals from reality, so exposure to television violence alone is unlikely to make them aggressive.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the view that fictional violence is harmless and the counter-argument that it may encourage aggression—while maintaining a consistent personal position throughout. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of superhero films and the specific reference to 'Crime Patrol'. The conclusion effectively synthesises your arguments and reinforces your stance. The response is balanced, logical, and directly answers the question posed in the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Nevertheless'. The use of referencing is precise, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different viewpoints. The flow of information is natural, and the reader is guided clearly through your argument from the introduction to the final conclusion without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic task. You use precise terms such as 'impressionable', 'legitimate', 'exaggerated', and 'distinguish'. The collocation is generally natural, and the vocabulary is used with sufficient flexibility to convey your meaning accurately. While the vocabulary is solid and effective, it stops just short of the 'wide, fluent and flexible' range required for a band 8 or 9, as it remains somewhat standard. However, there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your control of grammar is excellent. You use a variety of complex structures, such as conditional clauses and concessive clauses (e.g., 'Although there are valid arguments...', '...if...'), with high accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There are no significant grammatical slips that distract the reader. The sentence structures are varied, demonstrating a high level of competence that allows for clear and sophisticated expression of your ideas.

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