Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-15

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 6.0)

There is a growing trend all around the world where individuals involve in purchase of unnecessary clothing. This might be the case because people want to look more fashionable and aesthetic by wearing trending outfits. I believe we can persuade people to buy less clothes by making them realise how bad effect it causes to the environment to produce each outfit.

Nowadays, people pay attention on how they look on the outside and they try to be more presentable by wearing something attractive suited for each occasion. There are different types of wear which corresponds to each occassion and the style itself changes according to the latest fashion trends. Also, having 2-3 pairs of outfit in each style has become a new norm, to make sure they do not repeat the same dress in a similar type of event. This has prompted people to buy new clothes so that they stay up-to-date. For example, when streetwear was introduced in the 21st century which involved oversized shirts and baggy jeans, people started adopting in large numbers as they found it cool and lucrative

However, this practice of excessive buying of new clothes poses a significat threat to the environment. In order to satisfy the growing demand of cloth industry to produce new outfits, usage of synthetic materials has increased in production. This leads to more exploitation of fossil fuels like petroleum to produce synthetic fibres like polyester. For instance, in major industries like Nike, Adidas, there is a lot of dependence on synthetic fibres compared to natural fibres like cotton to produce clothing products, as they constitute a large share of cothing market.

In conclusion, people tend to spend to buy outfits which they do not require in order to look more beautiful and ourstanding for different occasions. This trend can be reversed by making them realise that it is not sustainable for the environment

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, identifying reasons for buying too many clothes, such as the desire to look fashionable and keep up with trends, and offering a solution regarding environmental awareness. However, the second part of the prompt—how people can be persuaded—is only briefly touched upon in the conclusion rather than fully developed in the body paragraphs. While the ideas presented are relevant and supported by examples like streetwear, the depth of development in the solution aspect is somewhat limited. Consequently, the response meets the criteria for Band 6, where all parts are addressed, but some are less fully covered than others.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the reasons for excessive buying from the environmental consequences. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Nowadays', 'Also', and 'However', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or formulaic. Referencing is generally clear, but the progression between paragraphs could be smoother, particularly regarding how the environmental impact directly translates into a method of persuasion. Overall, the logical flow satisfies the requirements for a Band 6 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'aesthetic', 'lucrative', and 'synthetic fibres'. However, there are several word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'involve in purchase' instead of 'engage in purchasing', 'cloth industry' instead of 'clothing industry', 'occassion' (spelling), and 'significat' (spelling). Despite these errors, communication is not impeded, and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and introductory phrases effectively. There are, however, several grammatical errors throughout the text, including prepositions ('bad effect it causes to the environment' instead of 'on') and articles ('demand of cloth industry'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors are noticeable, they rarely impede communication. The control over grammar and sentence structures firmly places this response in the Band 6 category.

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

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