Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Student answer (Band 6.0)
A number of individuals hold a view that advertising plays a great role in persuading us to buy products, while others believe advertising has become so general that we don't pay attention to them anymore. In my opinion, although people are exposed to too many advertising content and rely on reviews rather than advertisements, well-targeted advertisements continue to influence purchasing decisions, especially online.
On the one hand, audiences are exposed to similar content on television and social media such as Facebook, YouTube and so on. This continuous exposure causes people to avoid them. For instance, many people skip YouTube ads or use adblocker when using social media. Moreover, people tend to avoid ads because most of them prefer to read reviews when buying a product. Reviews are more trustworthy than repetitive and exaggerated content. However, I think advertisement still plays a great role to persuade us to buy things.
On the other hand, advertisement influences consumer behavior through psychology. Advertisements are created with attractive visuals and famous celebrities. As a result, people feel compelled to buy them. For example, many teenagers are influenced to buy latest smartphones because their favourite sportsperson promotes them. In addition, digital marketing produces content curated on customers' behavior and their online footprint. As a result, advertisement are more relatable and people get intrigued to buy certain products.
In conclusion, although people think that we no longer pay attention to advertisements due to repetitive content and prevalence of reviews, I strongly believe advertisement is extremely influential at persuading us to buy things through targeting consumer psychology and generating personalized content digitally.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. Ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the mention of adblockers and celebrity endorsements. However, the development of the argument could be more nuanced; for instance, the transition between the two views could be more sophisticated to better highlight the tension between the two perspectives. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be improved to achieve a more natural progression. The referencing is generally clear, though some minor improvements in the use of linking words would elevate the coherence to a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'consumer behavior', 'digital marketing', and 'personalized content' effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'advertising content' (should be 'advertisements' or 'advertising material') and 'advertisement are' (subject-verb agreement error). While the range is adequate, the use of less common lexical items is somewhat limited, preventing the essay from reaching the higher bands. The vocabulary used is appropriate for the context and does not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'Although people think that we no longer pay attention to advertisements... I strongly believe...'. However, there are persistent errors in grammar, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'advertisement are more relatable') and article usage (e.g., 'the latest smartphones' instead of 'latest smartphones'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The punctuation is generally accurate, but the grammatical control needs more consistency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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