Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-02
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)
These days, advertisements are the best way to attract customers to purchase something. However, some people believe that advertisements are becoming so common that consumers do not pay much attention to them. In my perspective, high-resolution advertisements are the best way to grab the target audience's attention. I completely agree with that and in this essay I will support my opinion with examples.
Firstly, advertisements increase the curiosity levels of consumers, which leads them to purchase that particular item. TThis is the best method of attracting a larger target audience. A notable example is KFC; by making 3D videos of their food items, they influence people to try their food at least once in their lifetime.
Another reason why I agree with this is that due to the excessive use of social media nowadays, people mostly prefer those products that are visually appealing and aesthetic. Take beauty products as an example; in such types of commercials, they show users the results, which captures many users' attention even if they do not need the product.
On the other hand, for some people, advertisements are boring and act as a barrier to their entertainment or work. Consequently, when commercials appear that do not match the consumer's direct interests, they simply refuse to pay attention and ignore them altogether.
To sum up, although there is a common belief that advertisements are the best way to influence consumer spending, I personally believe that high-quality marketing successfully drives curiosity and captivates potential buyers.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—that advertising successfully persuades buyers and that it is ignored due to its commonality—and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the length requirement is not met, as the response contains 248 words, falling just short of the minimum 250 words. While ideas such as the KFC example and social media aesthetics are relevant, they remain somewhat limited and under-developed, preventing the response from achieving a higher band. The conclusion slightly contradicts the prompt's discussion balance by reiterating only one side of the argument rather than fully summarising the dual perspective.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates some organisation with a logical overall arrangement, separating the introduction, body paragraphs addressing both views, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used to structure the argument. However, progression is occasionally hindered by mechanical or somewhat simplistic cohesive devices, such as repetitive transitions like 'Firstly' and 'Another reason'. Referencing is generally clear, but the links between sentences can feel disjointed at times, preventing a smooth flow of ideas throughout the entire essay.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The writer uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'high-resolution', 'curiosity levels', and 'visually appealing and aesthetic'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'in such types of commercials, they show users the results'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication, allowing the reader to easily follow the intended meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with successful attempts at complex structures such as conditional and relative clauses in sentences like 'consumers do not pay much attention to them' and 'consumers who do not match the consumer's direct interests'. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, including minor typos like 'TThis', but these errors are infrequent and rarely impede communication. Control over basic verb forms and sentence boundaries is generally sound.
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