Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-23

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)

Buying a substantial number of clothes is becoming a norm in many areas of the world. People consider purchasing a lot of clothes a status symbol, and those working in certain sectors consider it essential to wear new clothes every day so that they can impress their customers merely by their looks. People can be persuaded to buy a lesser number of apparels by awareness campaigns run by the governments to demonstrate how badly the clothing industry is affecting the environment.

Affluent people try to maintain their status in society by wearing luxury clothing, and they tend to focus on having plenty of dresses in their closets, so that they do not have to rewear any piece again, as by doing so, they can gain respect and value from society. Moreover, people working in certain fields, for example, the showbiz industry, are always keen to buy newer clothes, as they want to look pleasant in every photograph that can reach their fans. Hence, people spend lacs on shopping for clothes, although they sometimes never wear them again.

This issue can be dealt with by the governments by raising awareness among the public to reduce the number of clothes they buy. Clothing industries are posing a threat to vital ecosystems and are becoming a source of carbon emissions and deforestation. The government should underscore the significance of reusing clothes to save the environment and preserve natural habitats. For instance, in the United Kingdom, in a recent survey in 2023, thirty percent of forests were cut to construct clothing factories in the last ten years.

In conclusion, although buying and wearing new clothes is not a bad thing, consideration is important in every aspect. Individuals belonging to the upper class in societies and those belonging to certain sectors are burdening the environment every day by buying new clothes in huge quantities. The governments should focus on guiding people to buy clothes only for their use so that their harmful effects on the environment can be reduced.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by clearly explaining the reasons for excessive clothing purchases, such as status symbols and professional image requirements in the showbiz industry, and suggests a viable solution through government-led awareness campaigns. The position is clear throughout the essay. However, some ideas could be further extended with more comprehensive examples. For instance, the example provided about forest destruction in the United Kingdom appears unverified and overly specific. Nevertheless, the main parts of the prompt are well-covered, matching the Band 7 criteria where all parts are addressed and the main position is clearly sustained.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with the introduction of reasons, followed by detailed elaboration, a transition into the proposed solutions, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well to link ideas, such as 'Moreover', 'Hence', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is handled appropriately, ensuring that the discussion flows smoothly from the problem to the solution. While referencing and cohesive ties are sometimes slightly basic, they are generally clear and effective, supporting a Band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'status symbol', 'vital ecosystems', 'carbon emissions', and 'preserve natural habitats' show an awareness of less common lexical items related to the topic. There are occasional awkward collocations or slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'spend lacs on shopping' (a localized phrasing that may be less clear to a global audience) and 'plenty of dresses'. However, the vocabulary is adequate for the task, meaning is easily conveyed, and errors do not impede communication, placing the response firmly at Band 6.5 or 7.0. We award a solid Band 6.5 due to occasional slip-ups in natural phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses and conditional-style ideas effectively (e.g., 'so that they do not have to rewear any piece again'). There is a good degree of control over grammar and punctuation throughout the text. While minor structural awkwardness occurs—such as 'to buy a lesser number of apparels' (where 'apparels' is pluralized incorrectly as an uncountable noun in this context)—frequent error-free sentences are produced, and punctuation is handled well. This performance aligns closely with Band 7 descriptors.

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