Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that it is possible to tell a lot about a person’s culture and character from their choice of clothes.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 8.5)

People often judge others based on their appearance, especially the clothes they wear. Some believe that clothing reflects a person's culture and personality. I partly agree with this view because while clothing can provide useful clues about someone's background and character, it does not always give a complete or accurate picture.

On the one hand, clothing is often connected to culture and traditions. In many countries, people wear traditional outfits during festivals, weddings, or religious events. For example, in India, many people wear traditional clothes such as kurtas and sarees during celebrations, while in Scotland, kilts are worn on special occasions. These types of clothing can reveal a person's cultural identity and respect for their heritage.

Furthermore, a person's clothing style may reflect certain aspects of their personality. Someone who wears formal and well-organized clothing may appear professional and responsible, whereas a person who prefers bright and fashionable outfits may seem creative and confident. In many workplaces, employees dress professionally to create a positive impression and demonstrate respect for their job.

However, it is not always fair to judge people based only on their clothing. Many individuals choose clothes for comfort, affordability, or the requirements of their workplace rather than to express their personality. For instance, someone wearing casual clothes may still be hardworking and intelligent, while a person in expensive clothing may not necessarily have good character. Therefore, appearances can sometimes be misleading.

In conclusion, although clothing can provide some information about a person's culture and, to a certain extent, their personality, it should not be used as the only basis for judging someone's character. Getting to know a person through their actions and behaviour is a much more reliable way to understand who they truly are.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position from the introduction, stating that you 'partly agree' with the premise. The essay is well-structured, with one paragraph dedicated to how clothing reflects culture, another to how it reflects personality, and a counter-argument paragraph explaining why appearances can be misleading. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of Indian kurtas and Scottish kilts. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your argument, maintaining a balanced perspective throughout the piece.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using effective cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Furthermore,' 'However,' and 'In conclusion.' The use of referencing is accurate, and the paragraphing is logical and appropriate for the task. The flow of the argument is easy to follow, and the relationship between the ideas is clearly established, which meets the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'cultural identity,' 'respect for their heritage,' and 'misleading' are used appropriately. While the vocabulary is accurate and natural, it is generally functional rather than highly sophisticated. To reach the highest bands, you could incorporate more idiomatic expressions or less common collocations (e.g., instead of 'useful clues,' you might use 'tangible indicators'). However, the current range is more than adequate for the task and demonstrates good control over word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and contrastive clauses (e.g., 'Someone who wears... whereas a person who...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant slips that impede communication. The control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence, which is appropriate for a high band score.

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