Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-28

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish.

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 5.0)

Some are of the belief that advertising is largely superfluous as most consumers are aware of their own needs. In my opinion, this is true despite the fact that advertising can occasionally serve informative purposes.

The stated aim of the majority of advertisements is to raise awareness among a potential audience. This applies to commercials, billboards, and online advertising. A good example would be the short commercials that play before videos on YouTube. These ads are designed to showcase an item or service that, based on advanced audience targeting, would appeal to a particular consumer or demographic. Since an individual has been targeted, it is likely that the advertisement will be relevant and, if the ad is well-designed, informative. For instance, this might be an advertisement for a smartphone targeted at a photography enthusiast that includes details about hardware specifications and picture quality.

However, the internet now allows individuals to research products more objectively on a case by case basis. When a particular person is interested in purchasing a new phone, because they lost an old one or they desire a more modern one, then they can compare prices online, read customer reviews, and consult a variety of blogs and sites like Consumer Report, which is well known for its unbiased appraisals. There are, admittedly, situations when individuals will uncover new products they might not have been aware of before through ads. However, this is more likely to occur organically in daily life if a person sees someone else, for example, with a useful smartwatch. The advent of social media and sharing of personal information online also means that individuals have another media outlet aside from advertising that promotes new products and services.

In conclusion, advertising is no longer needed in modern society as there are other ways to research and discover products. This does not imply that advertising is ineffective, merely that in a perfect world it could be eliminated.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 1.0

The response is heavily off-topic. The prompt clearly asks you to discuss whether professionals like doctors and engineers should be required to work in the country where they trained versus being free to work abroad, and to give your own opinion. However, your essay discusses an entirely different topic—whether advertising is superfluous because consumers know their own needs. Because you have addressed a completely different prompt, the response falls under the off-topic category for Task Achievement. To achieve a higher band score, it is essential that you carefully read the prompt instructions, identify the core theme, and directly answer every part of the question provided.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

Despite being off-topic regarding the prompt, the text itself maintains clear internal organisation and logical progression. You structure your ideas well using paragraphs, starting with an introduction that outlines your opinion, followed by well-developed body paragraphs with supporting examples like YouTube commercials and online research. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is logical, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of your central thesis about advertising. Therefore, looking purely at the structural organisation and flow of the text, it demonstrates competent cohesive control.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

Your lexical resource is quite strong throughout the essay. You demonstrate an adequate to wide range of vocabulary appropriate for discussing media and consumer habits. Phrases such as 'largely superfluous', 'advanced audience targeting', 'hardware specifications', and 'unbiased appraisals' show good flexibility and precision. While there are a few minor word choice or stylistic choices, communication is never impeded. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate. With a wider variety of less common lexical items and more idiomatic phrasing, you could easily push into higher band ranges for this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You demonstrate good control of grammar and sentence structure throughout the response. A variety of complex structures are used effectively, such as conditional and subordinate clauses in sentences like 'Since an individual has been targeted, it is likely that the advertisement will be relevant...' Punctuation is handled correctly, and the majority of your sentences are grammatically accurate. There are very few grammatical errors, and those that do occur are minor and do not interfere with the clarity of your message. Your command of sentence mechanics contributes significantly to the readability of the text.

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