Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-01

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 7.5)

In certain parts of the world, many individuals purchase far more clothes than they need, largely to satisfy workplace expectations or to follow personal fashion interests. In my opinion, this habit is driven by professional standards, but companies can persuade people to buy less by adopting office uniforms and offering remote work.

To begin with, one major reason for excessive clothes shopping is the requirement to work on site five or six days a week. In many corporate environments, employees must interact daily with clients, managers, and senior directors. Wearing different professional outfits gives workers confidence and helps them project a respectable image. In addition, most staff members prefer variety in their weekly wardrobe rather than repeating the same five or six shirts. For example, recent employment surveys indicate that full-time corporate staff spend a considerable amount of their income on formal garments simply to maintain a fresh daily appearance in the office, which leads directly to overbuying.

To address this issue, employers and workers should take practical steps to curb unnecessary fashion spending. A very effective measure is for companies to introduce a standardised uniform for their workforce. For instance, organisations could provide specific shirts for different roles, such as light blue for junior employees and white for senior managers. This clear policy creates equality among staff and removes the pressure to purchase endless outfits for work. Furthermore, companies can allow office staff to work from home for part of the week. When employees work remotely, they do not need an extensive collection of formal attire, which leads to substantial savings. A notable example is ICICI Bank, which introduced flexible work-from-home options and reported that staff members reduced their expenditure on formal clothing considerably.

In conclusion, people purchase too many garments primarily because of daily workplace requirements and a desire for variety. Nevertheless, introducing corporate uniforms and remote working arrangements can successfully persuade workers to cut down on unnecessary clothing purchases.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by identifying reasons for excessive clothes shopping, such as workplace requirements, and offering solutions like office uniforms and remote work. The position is clear throughout the essay, and ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the reference to ICICI Bank. However, the scope of the causes and solutions tends to focus quite heavily on the professional environment, which shows a slight tendency to over-generalise consumer habits as primarily driven by office life, preventing the task achievement from reaching a higher level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

There is a clear logical organisation and progression throughout the essay, moving smoothly from an introduction to body paragraphs discussing causes and solutions, and concluding with a summary. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately, as seen in phrases like 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'To address this issue'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and logically, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic. Reference words and substitutions are managed well, ensuring the reader can easily follow the flow of arguments.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a sufficient vocabulary range to allow for some flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items such as 'corporate environments', 'standardised uniform', 'endless outfits', and 'substantial savings' are used with good awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are generally natural, and there are only occasional minor slips that do not impede communication. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The writer displays a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully combining complex sentences with accurate simple forms. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, showcasing excellent control of verb tenses, articles, plurals, and subordinate clauses. Complex structures such as 'When employees work remotely, they do not need an extensive collection of formal attire, which leads to substantial savings' demonstrate a high level of grammatical proficiency, with only very occasional minor inappropriacies.

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