Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In this modern era, people purchase an excessive number of clothes, even when they already have enough. There are several contributing factors, including changing fashion trends and the influence of social media. However, implementing effective ways can persuade individuals to shop for clothes prudently. This essay will discuss the reasons and solutions in the forthcoming paragraphs.

To commence with, one major reason is the evolution in clothing trends. Many people feel the need to purchase more stylish and fashionable clothing to follow the latest trends. This approach boosts their self-esteem in society. The second major reason is the influence of social media. In other words, individuals imitate their favourite famous figure to look attractive. Additionally, influencers promote various clothing brands for different occasions, encouraging people to buy more outfits. For example, many actors promote brands of fashionable outfits that manipulate viewers into buying them. Thus, changes in fashion approach and the influence of social media provoke people to buy more clothes.

However, there are several solutions to mitigate this issue. Firstly, the Government and educational institutions should raise awareness about the detrimental impact of this approach on our environment, including excessive water consumption and textile waste. Schools ought to educate students on the sustainable use of our natural resources and on avoiding excessive use in clothing production. Secondly, clothing companies should promote recycling programmes and offer incentives for returning unwanted clothes. Finally, consumers must be encouraged to adopt the 'buy less, better choice' approach to promote durable, versatile clothing products.

To recapitulate, the excessive buying of clothes is driven by trendy clothing and social media influence. However, by delivering the detrimental impact on the environment, sustainable initiatives and prudent shopping habits can tackle these problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your response addresses all parts of the task by clearly identifying the reasons why people buy excessive clothes, such as changing fashion trends and social media influence, and by offering practical solutions. Your position is clear throughout the essay. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the mention of actors promoting fashionable outfits and educational institutions raising awareness. However, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise in parts, which keeps your development at this level. To reach the next level, you could provide even more specific, detailed examples or explore the consequences and solutions in greater depth without relying on broad generalisations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Your essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. You have structured the response well with an introduction, clearly demarcated body paragraphs addressing reasons and solutions, and a logical conclusion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly, such as 'To commence with', 'The second major reason', 'Additionally', and 'Firstly', which help to guide the reader smoothly through your arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. To move to the next band, you could aim for even more seamless and unobtrusive transitions between sentences and paragraphs, ensuring that referencing and cohesion never feel formulaic.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for some flexibility and precision, allowing you to discuss fashion trends and environmental impacts effectively. You successfully attempt less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'excessive number', 'prudently', 'detrimental impact', and 'textile waste'. There are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, such as 'delivering the detrimental impact' in the conclusion, which would be better expressed as 'raising awareness of the detrimental impact'. To achieve a higher band, you should consistently incorporate a wider range of sophisticated, uncommon vocabulary with precise control over collocation and idiomatic phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

Your writing displays a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, resulting in frequent error-free sentences. You show good control of grammar and punctuation, successfully handling complex sentences such as 'Many people feel the need to purchase more stylish and fashionable clothing to follow the latest trends.' A few minor errors persist, such as 'implementing effective ways can persuade', where 'ways' could be more precisely phrased, but these do not impede communication. To reach the highest bands, you need to produce an even broader range of complex structures with total accuracy and virtually error-free sentences throughout the entire response.

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