Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-22

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 5.5)

In today's world of fast fashion, everyone wants to be a part of it, which leads people to buy more clothes. Many people pour money down the drain to buy the trendy cloths to feel included around. Due to increased use of social media platforms and online shopping apps people get influenced quickly to buy cloths. This essay will provide the consequent solutions to reduce the number of cloths people buy.

Firstmost, reason people buy more is fast fashion, they want to get everything the see on their phones or on online shopping apps. To decrease their interest in buying,government can intervene by applying a more tax on cloths, so that people can buy in limits or buy the things they actually need to buy. Adding to this, shopping apps and social media platforms should be only available at the daytime. Because of the increased habit of scrolling influence people to buy more. This will help people to focus on their work and not on the unnecessary things.

Another reason that people buy more cloths is, in some parts of the world the local shops or manufactures make the first copies of the big brands at such a low price ,that everyone can buy easily without thinking twice. Making the copies of the expensive brands should be prevented by taking a strict actions by the law. This is will not only help the brands to maintain their actual value, but also prevent people to buy unnecessary things and only buy the things that are real and in limits.

Thus, a government approach and helpful rules and regulations can prevent people to buy unnecessary cloths.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, identifying reasons for over-purchasing clothes (fast fashion, social media influence, and cheap counterfeit brands) and suggesting solutions (government taxation, limiting the availability of shopping apps, and banning counterfeit production). However, the development of ideas tends to be somewhat superficial and repetitive. For example, the suggestion that shopping apps should only be available during daytime hours is an underexplored and somewhat impractical idea that lacks deeper support. The position is clear throughout, but the arguments would benefit from greater elaboration and more robust supporting examples. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, placing this performance at Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion. Paragraphing is used, though the body paragraphs feel slightly compressed. Progression is sometimes hindered by mechanical transitions, such as 'Firstmost' (which is non-standard) and 'Adding to this'. Referencing is generally clear, but cohesive devices are occasionally awkward or repetitive. For instance, the transition into the second body paragraph relies on non-standard phrasing. While the overall structure allows the reader to follow the main points easily, the mechanical nature of the linking devices and minor organisational flaws prevent it from reaching a higher band. Coherence and cohesion correspond to a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate main ideas about fast fashion and online shopping. However, there are frequent spelling errors, such as repeatedly writing 'cloths' instead of 'clothes', and awkward word choices like 'pour money down the drain' and 'firstmost'. While the writer attempts some less common vocabulary ('consequent solutions', 'intervene'), these attempts are marred by collocation issues and inaccuracy. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message, but lexical control is weak, making Band 5.0 the most appropriate descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional or relative clauses ('people get influenced quickly to buy cloths', 'manufacturers make the first copies... at such a low price that everyone can buy easily'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation slips throughout the text. Examples include missing articles, incorrect pluralisation, and run-on structures like 'this is will not only help'. Errors frequently occur in subordinate clauses and article usage, although they rarely impede overall communication. Because complex structures are attempted but often faulty, and simple errors persist, this falls under Band 5.0.

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

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