Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-08

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 7.5)

In this modern era, many individuals believe that they can judge a person’s character and determine where they come from based on their clothes. I totally disagree with this statement because nowadays people prefer different styles of clothing to express their unique personalities.

The primary reason for this is that different cultures have a variety of traditional outfits. For example, in many countries, citizens have started celebrating other cultures’ festivals because they want to try something different from their daily lives. As a result, nobody can accurately judge where they come from or what their character is like simply by looking at their clothes. In addition, wearing traditional clothes from another culture can show a person’s interest in and respect for that culture. However, celebrating other cultures’ festivals or wearing their traditional clothes cannot describe a person’s true character because some people do so for fun, whereas others do it to understand the values and history behind the festival.

In contrast, appearance can sometimes be misleading because people often wear good-quality clothes to present themselves positively, while they may have negative intentions. For example, in a market, thieves may dress well and behave politely so that people trust them. As a consequence, they can sometimes steal things more easily or even attempt to manipulate vulnerable people. Therefore, a person’s appearance cannot always reflect their true personality or intentions.

In a nutshell, people cannot accurately judge another person’s character or background based solely on their clothes. Although clothing can sometimes provide clues about a person’s culture or preferences, it is not a reliable way to understand their personality or moral character.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear position and supporting it with relevant arguments. You have explored both the cultural aspect and the character aspect of the question. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the point about how clothing can be misleading, such as the example of thieves dressing well. The conclusion effectively summarizes your stance. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by discussing why some people might argue the opposite view more deeply, or by providing a more nuanced exploration of how fashion trends are becoming globalized, which complicates the link between clothing and specific cultural origins.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You have used cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'In contrast,' and 'As a consequence' effectively to link your sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text, making the essay easy to read and understand.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'modern era,' 'accurately judge,' and 'vulnerable people' are used appropriately. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, it is mostly functional. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'superficial,' 'misconception,' or 'cultural identity,' to show greater flexibility and precision in your expression. The current vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the 'uncommon' flair required for the highest bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly. You have successfully used complex structures, such as 'Although clothing can sometimes provide clues..., it is not a reliable way...' and '...thieves may dress well and behave politely so that people trust them.' There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to demonstrate even greater control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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