Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-05
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 individuals nowadays believe that advertising is very significant and successful and it inclines us towards the products, and some people think that people are not that much interested in watching advertisements because it is very common. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe strong advertising is very successful.
On the one hand, people believe that advertising is very successful for selling their products and it convinces us to buy that product, because the majority of marketing companies have targeted audiences for their products. For example, most of the toddlers' toy marketing has been done on specific cartoon channels, because when kids are watching cartoons on television they just want to buy that toy. Moreover, as a result of this marketing strategy, the sales of products will increase.
On the other hand, others think that advertising is very common nowadays and because of that individuals do not pay attention to ads. Advertising is ignored by many citizens because of wrong algorithms or trying to sell their products without giving proper instruction, since sometimes marketing agencies show ads to a user, who are appropriate. For instance, showing off-springs products to a male audience, even though some companies try to sell their products without showing proper advice on how to use them, this type of problem leads to less public interest and trust .
However, in my perspective advertising plays a very important role and is very effective for selling products, because nowadays marketing is done through social media apps with help of influencers and also ads are very interesting at present because of the creativity.
In conclusion, advertising is significant for sales and it has many beneficial outcomes, and also individuals love to watch ads because they like their taste and others are not interested in watching ads.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The first body paragraph provides a clear example regarding toy marketing, which is well-supported. The second body paragraph, while relevant, suffers from unclear explanations, such as the reference to 'off-springs products' and 'wrong algorithms,' which are not fully explained or linked effectively to the argument of consumer indifference. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explained with logical depth rather than just stated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Moreover,' and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second body paragraph where the connection between 'wrong algorithms' and 'less public interest' is not fully articulated. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'inclines us towards' and 'marketing strategy.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'off-springs products' (likely meaning children's products) and 'showing off-springs products to a male audience,' which slightly obscures the intended meaning. The range is sufficient to communicate, but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Focusing on collocations and more accurate terminology would improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'most of the toddlers' toy marketing has been done' (tense inconsistency) and 'who are appropriate' (referencing error). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some awkward phrasings that impact the flow. The writer demonstrates an ability to construct complex sentences, but the control over these structures is inconsistent. Reducing the frequency of these minor errors through careful proofreading would help elevate the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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