Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Advertising plays a significant role in modern society, and companies spend large amounts of money promoting their products and services. While some people believe that advertising is highly effective in influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions, others argue that people are exposed to advertisements so frequently that they have become less interested in them. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe advertising still has a considerable influence on consumers.

On the one hand, advertising can be extremely successful in persuading people to buy products. Companies use attractive images, emotional messages and well-known celebrities to create a positive impression of their products. In addition, advertisements often highlight the benefits and unique features of a product, which can encourage consumers to try something they may not have considered before. For example, advertisements for smartphones frequently focus on advanced cameras, longer battery life and modern designs, which may persuade customers to replace their existing phones even when their current devices are still functional. Therefore, effective advertising can influence both what people buy and how they perceive particular brands.

On the other hand, people are exposed to an enormous number of advertisements every day through television, social media, websites, billboards and mobile applications. As a result, many individuals have become accustomed to advertising and may simply ignore it. Furthermore, consumers today can easily compare products, read online reviews and search for information before making a purchase. This means that people may be less likely to believe advertisements without checking whether the claims are reliable. For instance, a customer may see an advertisement for a skincare product on social media but read reviews and compare it with other products before deciding whether to purchase it.

In my opinion, although the large amount of advertising has made people more selective and less attentive to some advertisements, advertising remains highly influential. A well-designed advertisement can attract attention, create brand awareness and encourage consumers to consider purchasing a product.

In conclusion, advertising may sometimes be ignored because it is so widespread, but it continues to affect consumers’ choices, particularly when advertisements are relevant, appealing and supported by convincing information.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—that advertising is extremely successful at persuading buyers and that it is too common to be paid attention to—and clearly presents a well-supported personal opinion throughout. The introduction outlines the essay structure, body paragraph one effectively argues the persuasive power of advertising using concrete smartphone examples, and body paragraph two thoroughly explores consumer fatigue and critical evaluation through online reviews. The conclusion seamlessly restates the writer's stance. Ideas are well-developed and extended appropriately, meeting all requirements for a Band 8 level under the Task Achievement criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a well-formulated introduction, followed by balanced body paragraphs introduced by standard cohesive markers such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand', and finishing with a cohesive conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively without being mechanical, and referencing throughout the essay remains clear. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly from one point to the next, which fully satisfies the requirements for a Band 7.5 to 8.0 performance in Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion on advertising. Appropriate terminology is used accurately, including phrases like 'purchasing decisions', 'unique features', 'functional', 'brand awareness', and 'selective'. While the range of vocabulary allows for precision and some less common items are integrated successfully (such as 'accustomed to advertising' and 'convincing information'), the word choice remains safe rather than exceptionally sophisticated or daring. There are virtually no spelling or word-choice errors, allowing the text to flow smoothly and comfortably positioning it within the Band 7 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay exhibits a strong command of grammatical structures, successfully blending simple and complex sentences. The writer employs varied subordinate clauses and conditional constructions effectively, such as 'which may persuade customers to replace their existing phones even when their current devices are still functional' and 'although the large amount of advertising has made people more selective'. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled with high accuracy. While there is a slight lack of the most advanced, highly flexible syntactic structures typically seen at Band 8 or 9, the control demonstrated is robust and consistent throughout, earning a solid Band 7.5.

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.