Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some parts of the world, people buy far too many clothes.

What are the reasons for this?
How can people be persuaded to reduce the number of clothes they buy?

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

Student answer (Band 7.0)

It has been noticed that people in some nations purchase a large number of clothes. I believe this trend is due to multiple reasons. This essay will discuss the reasons for this trend and suggest some measures to reduce excessive clothing purchases.

To commence with, one of the primary reasons for this trend is weather, as some countries have all four seasons. Consequently, they experience different weather conditions and temperatures throughout the year. Due to this, the citizens of such nations have to buy different types of clothing and footwear for every season, such as shorts for summer, jackets for fall, and snow shoes for winter. For example, because of the diversity of weather in North American countries like Canada and the US, people may need to purchase different clothes throughout the year. Moreover, there is one more factor which can cause excess buying of clothing, and that is 'fast fashion'. Fashion trends change at least two to three times annually. Therefore, the young generation is keen on following these trends, which leads to excessive purchasing of clothes. Social media and celebrities also encourage young people to buy new outfits in order to keep up with the latest styles.

Furthermore, several measures can be taken by individuals to reduce this buying habit. Firstly, they should focus on buying high-quality clothes. So, instead of buying new items every year, they can continue using their existing clothes. This measure could save them money as well. Secondly, they should consider donating their extra clothes to needy people. This could enhance the sense of community among people. Additionally, there are numerous recycling centres where people can recycle or exchange their clothes for money. These measures can reduce unnecessary purchases while also helping to minimize clothing waste.

To sum up, based on the aforementioned arguments, it is clear that people are buying excessively because of changing weather conditions and fast-fashion trends. This could be reduced to an extent by buying high-quality clothes and donating or recycling unwanted items.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for excessive clothing purchases and potential solutions. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented. The explanation regarding weather-related needs and the influence of 'fast fashion' is logical and well-supported with examples like Canada and the US. The solutions provided—investing in quality, donating, and recycling—are practical and directly answer the second part of the question. To reach a higher band, the development could be slightly more nuanced; for instance, exploring the psychological drivers of consumerism beyond just social media trends would add more depth to the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Consequently', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is generally clear, and the structure allows the reader to follow the argument without difficulty. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the causes and the solutions is smooth.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms such as 'fast fashion', 'excessive purchasing', 'recycling centres', and 'clothing waste'. While the range is adequate, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or idiomatic usage that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication, and the language used is consistently natural and clear throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly. There are no major grammatical errors that cause confusion. The use of complex structures, such as 'instead of buying new items every year, they can continue using their existing clothes', shows a good grasp of sentence variety. To improve, the student could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or more advanced passive constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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