Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-17
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)
Advertising plays a very crucial role in sales of products in today's growing world. Major population buy things that they see people praising especially the individuals that they admire the most. There are some advertisements which some humans find so usual that they do not pay attention. However, it completely depends on the person and advertisement of how it impacts on them.
Advertising has always influenced many people to buy things, despite their requirement. Advertisement Agencies use wide range of ideas and hooks to attract the generation especially the youngsters. They often showcase the problem and make everyone relate to it and once they get hooked, the product is shown as a solution. Many companies choose famous personalities including actors and influencers, and use their image for marketing of the items. As a result, the population who admire them, end up purchasing it.
Conversely, Some people assume that advertising is too common and they are no longer paying attention to it. There are some instances, where ideas are repeated, which make the advertisement familiar. As an epitome, Perfume ads mainly follow the same trend of people getting attracted by the person wearing the perfume which somehow does not make it stand different from the other brands. As a result, people find it usual and do not pay attention to it.
As a conclusion, I believe advertising does play a role in persuading humans to buy things but in certain circumstances. Hence, keeping the ad unique is considered as a key point for the success.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 the use of influencers and the repetition of perfume advertisements, these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis of why these strategies succeed or fail. The conclusion is brief and could more effectively synthesize the main arguments presented in the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with more depth and nuance rather than relying on general statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'As a result', and 'As a conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the transition between ideas within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For instance, the link between the introduction and the first body paragraph could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'they' and 'it', which occasionally makes the flow feel a bit stilted. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear pronoun references will enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'persuading', 'influencers', and 'epitome'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'major population' instead of 'a large segment of the population' or 'it completely depends on the person and advertisement of how it impacts on them'. The use of 'epitome' is also slightly misused in this context; 'for instance' or 'a prime example' would be more appropriate. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas more naturally.
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 several grammatical errors, such as 'advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it' (which is fine, but the following sentence 'it completely depends on the person and advertisement of how it impacts on them' is clunky). There are also minor errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'marketing of the items' (should be 'marketing of items'). You have a good grasp of basic grammar, but to achieve a higher score, you should aim for more error-free complex sentences and refine your control over punctuation and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.