Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-12
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)
In present time, advertisements play a significant role and help with their companies and small business. Some people think that advertising is extremely successful at **persuading** us to purchase things, while other individuals argue that advertising is a **widespread influence** that we no longer pay attention to. I will discuss both views and give my opinion.
To embark with, advertisements **support** small businesses and local shops. As a result, advertising **promotes** new products and brand collections because it supports business growth and market expansion. Moreover, many individuals can try new brand collections without impulse buying. For example, advertising becomes more **advantageous** for businesses and consumers. It helps people **become aware of** new products and services. Companies can use marketing strategies to promote their new products to **potential customers**. Additionally, many companies provide job opportunities through advertisements.
On the other hand, advertisements provide **unwanted products**. However, sometimes, they provide **misleading information** through social media so people can easily trust them and spend money on unnecessary products. For example, advertising can also have **adverse effects**. It may **persuade** people to buy products they do not really need. Advertisements can encourage **materialistic behaviour** and make people spend money on expensive clothes or phones. In addition, individuals can waste money on unnecessary products and face **financial difficulties**.
To conclude, advertising helps people gain knowledge about new products and **valuable information**, while sometimes advertising can provide misleading information and encourage people to purchase expensive things. In my opinion, advertising supports local shops and businesses by promoting new products. It creates job opportunities and provides useful information throughout the world.
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 limited. While you mention that advertising supports businesses and provides information, the arguments remain quite general. For instance, the point about 'unwanted products' is introduced but not fully linked to the prompt's specific debate about whether advertising is 'successful' or 'ignored'. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph directly answers the prompt's core question rather than listing general benefits or drawbacks. Your position is clear, but the supporting arguments require more depth and specific examples to be fully persuasive.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To embark with', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude'. However, some of these transitions, like 'To embark with', are non-standard and sound unnatural. Additionally, the flow between sentences within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is smoother. Referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the two sides of the argument could be more effectively integrated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including terms like 'impulse buying', 'market expansion', and 'materialistic behaviour'. There are some instances of slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'In present time' (should be 'At present' or 'In the modern era') and 'To embark with' (which is not a standard English idiom). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Focus on learning collocations and using more sophisticated academic vocabulary to enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is consistently clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'help with their companies' (which is unclear) and 'provide useful information throughout the world' (which is slightly imprecise in this context). There are also minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining your use of complex sentence structures. The majority of your sentences are understandable, but more variety and greater accuracy in complex constructions are needed to move into the 7.0 band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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