Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Many retailers and businesses rely on advertising. In the current era, advertisements play a significant role in marketing, and they can increase the sales of various goods. Some argue that advertisements encourage people to buy a variety of products, while others believe that, due to the enormous number of advertisements circulating in the market, people are not taking them seriously. There are a couple of arguments in favour of advertising as an effective way to increase sales, as well as arguments against it. From my perspective, advertisements are beneficial because they are a common marketing strategy to sell products with famous celebrities and by implementing various offers for major sales.

The first argument is that advertisements consist of well-known faces who promote a variety of goods. It makes a huge impact on people's lives and encourages them to buy the same product used by a famous personality. People are likely to buy luxury items that are available in the local market at lower prices. It is a basic marketing method to use a celebrity to promote brands. Moreover, this increases the sales of industries and benefits their economic condition. For instance, big tech companies like Apple are often promoted by Hollywood celebrities, and people eagerly want to buy their phones and other products.

Additionally, social media has become a significant platform for promoting advertisements. Companies often use social media and implement offers to improve their sales. Advertisements through social media sites are widely spread among people. Even people promote their small businesses through it, and large business hubs provide huge offers, which attract more customers. This is more beneficial for people because items are available in combos at lower prices. Therefore, advertisements have become essential in the contemporary world.

On the other hand, there are numerous advertisements available and a wide range of products, which often confuse customers when choosing the right product. People often tend to buy goods without acknowledging the correct information or identifying their drawbacks. As a result, people ignore advertisements. For example,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The essay addresses both views and provides a clear personal position. However, the response is incomplete; it ends abruptly mid-sentence in the final paragraph ('For example,'). This failure to conclude the argument or provide a full discussion of the second viewpoint significantly impacts the task achievement. While the initial paragraphs develop ideas regarding celebrity endorsement and social media effectively, the lack of a conclusion and the unfinished final point prevent the essay from fully addressing all parts of the task. To improve, ensure that all arguments are fully developed and that the essay includes a cohesive conclusion that summarises the main points and restates your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses paragraphing to separate different ideas, which helps the reader follow the structure. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover,' 'Additionally,' and 'On the other hand' are used to link sentences and paragraphs. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the logical flow and coherence of the final section. While the progression of ideas is generally clear in the first two body paragraphs, the sudden stop makes the overall organisation feel incomplete. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph has a clear concluding thought and that the essay as a whole is finished, rather than trailing off.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'marketing strategy,' 'celebrity endorsement,' and 'contemporary world.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Some word choices are slightly repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'advertisements' and 'products.' To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations, such as 'consumer behaviour,' 'ubiquitous,' or 'persuasive techniques,' to demonstrate a wider and more precise lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically sound, and errors do not generally impede communication. There are some minor issues with article usage and phrasing, such as 'It makes a huge impact' (better: 'This has a significant impact'). While the grammar is generally reliable, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher score, aim to vary your sentence beginnings and use a wider variety of subordinate clauses and complex grammatical forms with greater precision.

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