Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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)

Buying patterns are eventually changing all over the world. Nowadays, some people prefer to buy too many clothes to ensure that they are not out of stock for the clothes. Reasons for this behavior will be shared in the upcoming paragraphs alongwith the measures which can be taken to convince people to reduce the amount of clothes they purchase.

First of all, some people think that they should have new clothes for every event or party they attend. To be more precise, they prefer not to repeat their clothes on special events, weddings or parties. For example, majority of the ladies like to wear new clothes because they think that their relatives have seen their old outfits on the previous events already and they prefer to wear a new outfit; in return, everybody will praise them for the same.

Moreover, some people prefer to buy branded clothes. They are brand consious persons. They need to make sure that they have all the newly launched outfits just to make sure that they are not behind from anyone. They like to show off in front of friends and relatives. On the other hand, I beleive that this behavior costs a lot of money. Money spent on extra clothes can be spent on some good deeds like helping someone in terms of their studies or groceries. In addition to this, if the clothes are not repeated, it will affect our environment too. People should be educated to repeat their clothes or donate their clothes to the needy people so that environmnt is not getting affected with these buying habits.

In the end, people should buy clothes but only in a certain limit as excess of everything is dangerous. We should make sure that the purchased clothes are not getting waste.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both parts of the question: you give reasons for buying too many clothes, including wanting a new outfit for each event and keeping up with brands, and suggest education, repeating clothes, and donating them. These ideas are relevant, but the solutions are less fully explained than the reasons. For instance, you mention educating people to repeat or donate clothes without showing who could provide this education or how it might change buying habits. The opening claim about buying clothes to avoid being “out of stock” is also not clearly connected to the later explanations. Develop each main point with a clearer explanation or example, and make the link between the causes and proposed measures more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph explaining reasons and possible measures, and a concluding statement. Sequencing phrases such as “First of all,” “Moreover,” and “In the end” help readers follow the discussion. However, the second body paragraph combines brand-related reasons, personal opinion, spending, environmental effects, and solutions, so its focus shifts several times. Some links are also mechanical, and “On the other hand” does not introduce a clear contrast with the preceding point. Improve progression by separating causes from solutions into distinct paragraphs and using linking expressions that show the precise relationship between ideas. Clearer references would also help connect the environmental concern to the proposed actions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “branded clothes,” “newly launched outfits,” “donate,” and “environment,” which makes the main ideas understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “in return” and “in terms of.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “not be behind from anyone,” “good deeds,” and “clothes are not getting waste.” Spelling errors such as “consious,” “beleive,” and “environmnt” are noticeable. These do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and control. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling; for example, describe keeping up with others, supporting people in need, and preventing clothes from going to waste.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “because,” “so that,” and “if,” and the overall meaning is generally clear. Some sentence structures are controlled, such as “They like to show off in front of friends and relatives.” However, there are several grammatical errors in longer sentences. For example, “majority of the ladies” needs an article, and “the environment is not getting affected” uses an awkward passive construction and tense. In “the purchased clothes are not getting waste,” the sentence structure is also faulty. Review articles, agreement, and verb forms, and simplify sentences when needed. More accurate complex sentences would make your ideas easier to follow.

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