Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-03
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)
Some people say that the advertising process is not valuable to sell the products while on the other hand, some believe the ads are so much common that we are not paying great attention to it. In my opinion, ads are extremely important to sell something. But in the below paragraphs we will discuss both points of view.
If we look at the products today, which are highly sold are mostly those whose ads are appearing on tv or on social media. Because this is the reality as social media ads like on youtube or other platforms play a crucial role to make the people to buy products. For example: In the early time when Pepsi began in the market and no one bought it because people thought its color is weird and maybe its a kind of alcohol, but when there were ads on tv of Pepsi we all know how highly sold this brand is.
Although, today everyone in a small amount can play its product ad on media platforms like everyone is just showing bad products such as due to social ads bad things such as apps which are prohibited, products got famous but it does not mean the buying habits are less active, but yes the hopes or confidence is quite low now as compared to the time of tv when there were small pieces of ads being displayed. This is why some say the high display of ads makes it tough for good products to sell, as every poor kind of thing ad shows on insta or facebook.
In conclusion, while it is true that alot of modern advertising can sometimes create s and make it harder to spot genuinely good items, ads remain an indispensable tool for driving sales and raising product awareness.
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. The example of Pepsi is relevant but lacks depth, and the second body paragraph is confusing, particularly the argument regarding 'bad products' and 'prohibited apps,' which does not clearly link back to the prompt's core issue of whether advertising is effective or ignored. While the position is consistent, the supporting arguments lack the analytical rigour required for a higher band. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a single, well-explained argument that directly answers the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and weak transitions. For instance, the transition 'Although, today everyone...' does not effectively contrast with the previous paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, but they are sometimes mechanical or misused, such as the phrase 'in the below paragraphs' in the introduction, which is unnecessary. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of the argument. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each sentence builds logically on the previous one would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'good products,' 'bad things,' and 'highly sold.' Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'in a small amount' to describe individuals or small businesses. There are also minor errors in collocation, such as 'make the people to buy.' To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to marketing and consumer behaviour, such as 'brand awareness,' 'consumer engagement,' or 'saturated market.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the advertising process is not valuable to sell the products' (should be 'valuable for selling'), 'maybe its a kind of alcohol' (missing apostrophe and punctuation), and 'everyone in a small amount can play its product ad.' Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the writing from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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