Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-28

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)

It is debatable whether advertising is the most successful marketing strategy for convincing buyers. Vibrant, colourful visuals featuring popular celebrities to sell products have become increasingly common. While some believe this strategy is effective, others have come to the conclusion that, because advertisements are so pervasive, people no longer pay attention to them. I agree that advertisements have become less effective, but some well designed ads can still appeal to their target audience.

Ads are everywhere. We used to have physical posters featuring products and movies, while newspapers were interrupted by advertisements every few pages. However, in recent times, advertising has become more prevalent than ever. Ads can now be found on almost every app we use, be it social media platforms, streaming services or even games. All of these platforms feature advertisements, which are often even unskippable. For instance, after every few reels that we scroll through, a add pops up, but the true reach of such ads is questionable. Although the ads have been deliverd to the target audience through this method, it is often not even registered by the user, they simply skip to the next reel. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that ads have become redundant because they are not only less effective at appealing to audiences but also fail to capture their attention.

On the other hand products often go viral through creatively designed ads. For example, a popular jeans brand went viral after creating an advertisement that looked more like a music video rather than an ad by featuring a popular korean music band. The ad was so successful that people went out of their way to look up the video on youtube, the video garned views in millions, indicating the successful appeal it had created despite being an ad. Another strategy used by companies is to create an eccentric appeal, whereby a video stands out to viewers because of its unique take on a particular idea. Creating controversy around a specific idea through advertisements can generate greater public discussion about a product than a safely produced and conventional video advertisement. Therefore, advertisements can still be successful when they are creatively produced in a way that does not make users feel as though they are watching an advertisement.

In conclusion, Advertisements still serve their purpose, but they are no longer able to appeal to audiences through conventional strategies. Instead, marketing teams have to identify methods that genuinely resonate with their target audience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—that advertising is extremely successful and that it is too common to be noticed—while clearly stating the writer's own opinion. The position is well maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are appropriately extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the discussion of unskippable ads on streaming apps and the viral jeans brand campaign featuring a Korean music band. The arguments are logical and directly connected to the prompt, demonstrating a strong understanding of the task requirements. There is a slight over-generalisation in places, but overall the task is thoroughly covered, fitting the Band 7 descriptor well.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the ubiquity of ads, then to counter-examples of successful creative ads, and finally to a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as transitional phrases like 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Therefore'. However, paragraphing could occasionally be tighter, and some referencing is slightly mechanical. Overall, the flow of ideas is coherent and easy to follow, justifying a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, incorporating less common items such as 'pervasive', 'redundant', 'eccentric appeal', and 'conventionally produced'. There are occasional word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'deliverd' instead of 'delivered', 'add' instead of 'ad', and 'garned' instead of 'garnered'. Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary used is adequate to convey precise meanings and supports communication effectively without impeding the reader, aligning with the Band 7 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a variety of complex structures alongside simpler sentence forms, such as 'While some believe this strategy is effective, others have come to the conclusion that...' and 'Although the ads have been delivered to the target audience through this method, it is often not even registered by the user...'. There are frequent error-free sentences, showing good overall control of grammar. However, a few mechanical errors and punctuation slips persist, including a comma splice in the second paragraph ('...registered by the user, they simply skip...'). These errors do not impede communication, placing the grammar comfortably at Band 7.

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