Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-25

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 6.5)

There are differing views about the effectiveness of advertising. Some people believe that advertising is highly successful in persuading consumers to purchase products, while others argue that advertising has become so common that people no longer pay attention to it. In my opinion, advertising remains a very powerful marketing tool, particularly when it is adapted to modern digital platforms.

I strongly agree with the view that advertising can influence consumers' purchasing decisions. Advertising helps companies create awareness of their products and build recognition among potential customers. One important concept in marketing is brand ad recall, which refers to how well consumers remember a brand after seeing its advertisements. The more frequently and effectively people are exposed to a brand, the more likely they may be to remember it when making a purchasing decision.

However, some people argue that advertising has become too common and that consumers have stopped paying attention to it. Although this may be true to some extent for traditional forms of advertising, such as billboards and newspaper advertisements, I do not completely agree with this view. Consumer behaviour has changed significantly with the growth of digital technology. Social media platforms now provide businesses with opportunities to reach specific audiences and communicate with potential customers more directly than many traditional advertising methods.

In conclusion, I believe that advertising continues to be an effective way of influencing consumers and increasing brand awareness. However, businesses should focus on modern digital advertising rather than relying only on conventional methods. As more consumers research and purchase products online, digital advertising can help businesses reach wider audiences and support their long-term growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on advertising—its persuasiveness versus consumers ignoring it—and clearly states a personal opinion throughout. In the introduction, the writer outlines the dual perspectives and presents a stance. Body paragraph one explores why advertising is successful, mentioning brand recall. Body paragraph two addresses the counter-argument regarding advertising fatigue and refutes it by introducing the role of digital technology. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations about consumer behaviour on social media platforms. The conclusion neatly ties these arguments together. This performance fully aligns with the Band 7.0 descriptors for Task Achievement as all parts of the task are addressed with a clear position and extended, supported ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: introduction, persuasive view, counter-view with digital shift, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, such as 'Some people believe', 'One important concept', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. Referencing is clear, and paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to guide the reader through the arguments. There are no noticeable faults in cohesion or mechanical transitions, showing a strong grasp of textual flow. This meets the criteria for Band 7.0, where information and ideas are logically organised and progression is clear throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision appropriate for an academic discussion. Phrases like 'persuading consumers', 'brand ad recall', 'consumer behaviour', and 'conventional methods' show an awareness of style and collocation. There are only a few minor slips or standard lexical choices, but overall the vocabulary is adequate to convey precise meanings without impeding communication. It fits the Band 7.0 descriptor well, demonstrating a sufficient range for flexibility and precision, and the ability to use less common items with some awareness of collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writing exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses ('Although this may be true to some extent...') and relative clauses ('which refers to how well consumers remember a brand...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the grammar and punctuation are handled with good control throughout the essay. Any minor slips do not impede communication or obscure the writer's meaning. This performance corresponds to Band 7.0, featuring a variety of complex structures, frequent error-free sentences, and generally good control of grammar.

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