Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-06

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 7.5)

Advertising is an important part of modern life. Some people believe that advertisements are very effective in convincing people to buy products, while others argue that advertisements are so common that people have stopped noticing them. This essay will discuss both views and give my opinion.

On the one hand, advertising can strongly influence people's buying decisions. Companies use attractive pictures, catchy slogans and popular celebrities to make their products look more appealing. For example, when a famous actor promotes a particular brand of clothing, many fans may want to buy the same product. Advertisements also create awareness about new products and explain their benefits. As a result, people may choose a product that they had not considered before simply because they saw it in an advertisement.

On the other hand, people are exposed to advertisements almost everywhere, such as on social media, websites, television and public transport. Because of this, many people have become used to seeing them and simply ignore them. For instance, internet users often scroll past advertisements on social media without even reading them. Moreover, some people do not trust advertisements because they believe that companies often exaggerate the quality or benefits of their products.

In my opinion, advertising is still successful, but its influence depends on the type of advertisement and the person seeing it. Although people may ignore many advertisements, a well-designed and relevant advertisement can still attract attention and affect buying choices.

In conclusion, advertisements can persuade people to purchase products, but their large presence has also made many people less interested in them. Therefore, I believe advertising remains effective, although it is not equally powerful for everyone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of celebrity endorsements and the tendency of users to scroll past social media ads. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments. To reach a higher band, the development of the second view could be slightly more nuanced, perhaps by exploring the psychological aspect of 'ad blindness' in greater depth, but the current level of development is sufficient for a strong score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two opposing views is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is used effectively to structure the argument. The flow is natural, and the reader is guided through the writer's reasoning without any confusion. The use of linking words is balanced and does not feel mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms such as 'persuading', 'buying decisions', 'exaggerate', and 'well-designed'. While the range is adequate, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would characterize a band 8 or 9 response. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling, and the language used is precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of 'Although' clauses and conditional-like structures ('if...'). The sentences are generally error-free, and punctuation is used correctly. While the range of complex structures is good, it could be further expanded to include more varied subordinate clauses or passive constructions to demonstrate greater flexibility. However, the current accuracy is high, and there are no errors that impede communication.

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