Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-15
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 7.0)
Some people believe that what we wear can show a lot about our culture and character. In my opinion, I partly agree with this view because clothing can show cultural traditions, but it does not always tell the truth about a person's inner character.
On the one hand, clothing can clearly show a person's cultural background. For example, people in some countries wear traditional clothes during festivals or special events, such as the sari in India or the kimono in Japan. These outfits help people express their culture and national identity. Moreover, uniforms at work or school can show what kind of job or position someone has.
On the other hand, we cannot always judge a person's character just by looking at their clothes. Today, fashion is mostly influenced by personal comfort, weather, or trends rather than personality. For instance, someone who likes to wear casual sportswear is not necessarily lazy; they might just want to feel comfortable while working from home. Furthermore, people often dress up to fit in with society or to look professional for a job, which might hide their true feelings or personality. A person wearing an expensive suit might look very confident, but they could actually feel very nervous inside.
In conclusion, while clothes can sometimes reflect cultural traditions and professional roles, they are not a reliable way to understand a person's real character. Fashion is usually driven by practical choices and modern trends rather than a person's inner self.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses both aspects of the prompt: culture and character. You present a clear position and support it with relevant examples, such as the sari and kimono for culture, and the influence of comfort or professional requirements for character. However, the response is 245 words, which is slightly under the 250-word minimum requirement. This minor omission impacts the overall task completion. To improve, ensure you expand slightly more on your supporting arguments to comfortably exceed the word count, as failing to meet the minimum length is a penalty-incurring oversight in IELTS writing tasks.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the cultural aspect to the character aspect. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' 'Moreover,' and 'Furthermore,' which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'cultural background,' 'national identity,' and 'professional roles' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would push the score into the higher bands. The word choice is consistently appropriate for the context, and there are no spelling errors. To improve, try incorporating more nuanced synonyms or idiomatic expressions related to social perception and identity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of conditional and contrastive structures ('while clothes can sometimes reflect...', 'someone who likes to wear...') shows good control. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. The punctuation is correct throughout. To reach a higher band, you could aim for a greater variety of complex grammatical structures, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, to demonstrate a wider range of linguistic flexibility.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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