Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-25

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)

It is argued that an individual's style of dressing gives an insight into their cultural background and character, as people often form first impressions based on appearance. In my view, people's choice of clothing might reflect their religious observance and cultural traditions, but should not be taken as a symbol of their character because it is not a reliable indicator.

The primary reason is that an individual's dressing sense reflects their specific religious beliefs and traditions, which have been passed down by progenitors and act as a fabric for the religious community. For instance, the Hijab practice in the Muslim community reflect their religious values. Furthermore, people wear traditional attire to demonstrate their native land of origin, which helps them to stay connected to their roots. By choosing to wear culturally significant attire, individuals actively showcase their cultural backround and a character rooted in pride and resilience. Consequently, such traditional costumes become a hallmark for their cultural backgrounds.

Conversely, a person's character cannot be accurately determined by their dressing style. Some think people wearing modern dresses might be sophisticated whereas those wearing the traditional clothing may be old-fashioned, however in the modern world such thinking has been proved wrong. Additionally, some people might mistakenly associate clothing with character, and some professional codes shape these perceptions. It is possible that people who dress formally and wear expensive clothing, which is appropriate as per the societal norms may possess immoral and negative personal values which are detrimental to the society, but those who wear casual, informal and cheaper clothes might possess stronger ethical values and higher moral character.

In conclusion, although an individual's choice of clothes has a direct relationship with their religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds, I disagree with the part that it can predict their moral character.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout. You effectively distinguish between cultural identity and moral character, providing relevant examples such as the Hijab and professional dress codes. The ideas are well-developed and logically extended, particularly in the second body paragraph where you contrast societal perceptions with actual ethical values. To reach a higher band, ensure that the link between 'character' and 'clothes' is explored with even more nuance, perhaps by discussing how personal style can sometimes be a deliberate expression of personality traits, rather than just a binary of 'formal' versus 'informal'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'The primary reason', 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'Conversely' are used effectively to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main themes of culture and character. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is clear throughout. The structure is coherent, and the flow of information is consistent, which meets the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'progenitors', 'resilience', 'hallmark', and 'detrimental'. The language is generally precise and appropriate for an academic essay. There are a few minor issues, such as 'backround' (spelling) and 'dressing sense' (which is slightly informal/regional). However, you successfully use less common lexical items to convey your meaning clearly. To improve, focus on refining collocations and ensuring spelling accuracy to achieve a more sophisticated and natural tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and contrastive clauses (e.g., 'It is possible that... but those who...'). Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'the Hijab practice... reflect' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'I disagree with the part that' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Despite these minor lapses, the control of grammar is strong, and the errors do not impede communication.

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

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