Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-24
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 this modern era, advertisement has become a integral part of human life. Some people believe that advertising is exceedingly victorious at winning people approval for buying things while other's perspective that advertising has become to common that people stop giving attention on them. This essay will not only discuss both views but also my opinion which is in favour of former point of view and mentioned in the forthcoming fragments with a logical conclusion.
On the one hand, advertising have endless merits. First and foremost is that personalization in ads. To explain it, today ad companies are using smart tech due which they are able to reach in feed of the customers of their interest. It is done by seeking people personal data and their search history. For example, customers searching for a new air conditioner online but after that search he/she will have lot of advertising related to AC. As a result, it is useful for customers go with the relevant option. Secondly, many famous are used. To elaborate it, companies use celebrities and instagram influencers to advertise
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 180 words. This significantly impacts the development of the argument. While you introduce both views and state your opinion, the essay is incomplete; it cuts off mid-sentence in the second body paragraph and fails to provide a conclusion or a full discussion of the second perspective. Because the response is unfinished and lacks the necessary depth to fully address the prompt, it cannot progress beyond a band 5.0. To improve, you must ensure you complete all parts of the task and provide sufficient supporting evidence for each viewpoint.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows some attempt at logical organization through the use of transition signals like 'First and foremost' and 'On the one hand'. However, the abrupt ending and the lack of a concluding paragraph disrupt the overall flow. Paragraphing is present, but the second paragraph is incomplete, which hinders the logical progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, but they are somewhat mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that the essay has a clear, cohesive structure from introduction to conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'modern era', 'personalization', and 'relevant option'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'exceedingly victorious' (instead of 'highly effective') and 'winning people approval' (instead of 'persuading people'). Additionally, there are minor grammatical errors in word form, such as 'other's perspective' instead of 'others' perspective'. To improve, focus on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—and avoid using overly complex words if you are not certain of their precise meaning in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'advertising have endless merits' (subject-verb agreement), 'due which' (missing preposition), and 'many famous are used' (missing noun). While the meaning is generally understandable, these recurring errors prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately. Proofreading for small errors like missing articles or incorrect prepositions will also help improve your score.
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.