Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-19

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)

In many parts of the world, people are buying significantly more clothes than they actually need. There are several reasons behind this growing trend, but simple changes can encourage people to buy less.

One main reason for excessive shopping is fast fashion. Many clothing brands release new collections every few weeks at very low prices. This makes buying new clothes cheap and easy. Another factor is social media. Platforms like Instagram show influencers wearing new outfits constantly, creating pressure for people to keep up with trends so they do not feel left out. Additionally, online shopping makes purchasing instant and convenient, which often leads to impulsive buying.

To persuade people to reduce their clothing purchases, education and awareness are key. Governments and schools can launch campaigns that explain the environmental damage caused by fashion waste, such as water pollution and landfill usage. When people realize how harmful overconsumption is to the planet, they are more likely to think twice before buying.

Furthermore, people can be encouraged to build a sustainable wardrobe. Buying higher-quality clothes that last longer, rather than cheap items that wear out quickly, saves money in the long run. Promoting second-hand shopping through thrift stores and clothing swap events can also make re-wearing clothes stylish and fun. Finally, setting personal spending limits or trying challenges like a "no-new-clothes month" can help individuals break the habit of unnecessary shopping.

In conclusion, while fast fashion and social media drive people to buy too many clothes, raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainable shopping habits can effectively guide people toward buying less.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly identifying both the reasons behind excessive clothing purchases and actionable ways people can be persuaded to reduce them. The ideas are well developed with relevant examples and explanations. For instance, the discussion on fast fashion and social media provides clear causes, while the suggestions for building a sustainable wardrobe and raising educational awareness offer practical solutions. The position is clear throughout the text, and all requirements of the prompt are successfully met, demonstrating strong task response according to the band descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting from the introduction of the trend, moving into causes in the second paragraph, followed by educational solutions, and practical strategies in the fourth paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'One main reason', 'Another factor', 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the text, although some transitions are somewhat standard rather than flexible. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall arrangement is entirely coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student uses an adequate and sufficiently varied range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items and collocations such as 'excessive shopping', 'fast fashion', 'environmental damage', 'landfill usage', and 'sustainable wardrobe' are employed with good control. Word choice is generally precise, and spelling is accurate throughout. While the range could be slightly wider to push into higher bands, it successfully allows for flexibility and precision in discussing environmental and consumer trends, meaning communication is smooth and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The student demonstrates control over complex forms, such as conditional and participial clauses (e.g., 'When people realize how harmful overconsumption is to the planet, they are more likely to think twice before buying'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. Grammatical errors are practically non-existent, and the few complex structures attempted are well-formed and accurate, fully matching the criteria for a strong performance.

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

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