Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-12

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 6.5)

It is frequently observed that people these days are purchasing more clothes than they require. This shift is mainly due to mass production and fashion trends influenced by well-known people. However, to encourage people to buy fewer clothes can be done by providing them information about financial literacy.

The primary reason for this development is that clothes are being manufactured in surplus quantities. Specifically, materials required to prepare outfits are affordable; owing to this, businesses produce the clothing in large amounts which allows them to sell products at a highly discounted price. As a result, people buy clothes in bulk to save some money. Furthermore, the fashion trend keeps on changing from time to time. This is because people follow the example of the actors and well-known people they admire, thus buying everything they see on social media platforms without considering if they actually need that attire or not.

Nevertheless, people should be educated about the importance of financial management. More precisely, financial education can help consumers distinguish between their needs and wants and make them think carefully before purchasing clothes that they do not really need. As a result, they may become less likely to make impulsive purchases and instead save their money for future needs or unexpected emergencies. For instance, if people have a significant amount of money saved in their accounts, they may be able to invest it in real estate or cover unexpected medical expenses instead of spending it on unnecessary clothing.

In conclusion, although impulse buying of clothes has its own reasons such as increase in production and ongoing clothing trends, people should be provided with information on saving money for the future rather than spending out of their budget.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by identifying the causes of excessive clothing purchases (mass production, affordability, and changing fashion trends influenced by celebrities and social media) and proposing a solution (financial literacy and education). The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are well developed with relevant supporting details. For instance, the explanation of how affordable manufacturing leads to discounted prices and bulk buying is logical and effectively expanded. Similarly, the solution involving financial management is clearly articulated and supported with a practical example regarding real estate investment and emergency funds. The response meets the criteria for Band 7 well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and a logical progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introductory overview, followed by the causes in the second paragraph, the solution in the third, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, such as 'Furthermore', 'Nevertheless', and 'For instance'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly from the problems to the proposed solution. Referential language is also handled well, maintaining clear links between ideas. The overall structure aligns strongly with Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision. Words and phrases such as 'surplus quantities', 'impulsive purchases', 'financial literacy', and 'unexpected emergencies' show an awareness of less common lexical items. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses or minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'to encourage people to buy fewer clothes can be done by', which is grammatically clunky, but vocabulary errors do not impede communication. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, placing the lexical performance comfortably within Band 6.5 to 7.0 territory, best represented by a solid 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response utilizes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a good variety of structures such as conditional and relative clauses ('if people have a significant amount of money saved...', 'clothes that they do not really need'). There is good control of grammar and punctuation overall. While there are a few minor awkward constructions, such as the subject-verb imbalance in 'However, to encourage people to buy fewer clothes can be done by', frequent error-free sentences appear throughout the text. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses, and communication is never impeded. This performance corresponds well to Band 7 descriptors.

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