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 reflects 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 background and a character rooted in pride and resilience. Consequently, such traditional costumes become a hallmark for their cultural backgrounds.

Conversely, a personal style can sometimes be a deliberate expression of personality traits; however, a person's character cannot be accurately determined by it. It is possible that people who dress as per the societal norms may possess negative values and immoral character, but those who wear unacceptable attractive clothes might possess stronger values and character. Similarly, some think individuals wearing modern dresses are sophisticated whereas those wearing traditional dresses are old-fashioned, but it cannot be proved unless we engage with them in a conversation and understand if their thinking is modern or backward.

In conclusion, although an individual's choice of clothes symbolizes their religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds, I disagree with the notion that it can predict their character accurately since it is an unrelaible indicator.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout. You successfully distinguish between the cultural significance of clothing and its inability to serve as a reliable indicator of character. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between religious attire and personality traits. To reach a higher band, ensure that your examples are slightly more varied; while the Hijab example is relevant, expanding on how character is formed independently of external appearance would strengthen the argument. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the question.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'Conversely' are used effectively to guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is clear. To improve, ensure that the transition between the cultural aspect and the character aspect is even more seamless to avoid any sense of mechanical structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'progenitors', 'resilience', 'sophisticated', and 'hallmark' appropriately. There is an awareness of style and collocation, which contributes to the clarity of your argument. However, there is a minor spelling error ('unrelaible') and some phrasing could be more precise, such as 'unacceptable attractive clothes', which is slightly awkward. Increasing your use of less common collocations would help elevate the score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are occasional minor slips, such as the phrasing 'act as a fabric for the religious community', which is slightly non-idiomatic. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the complex structures used do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, aim for a greater variety of complex structures and ensure that all idiomatic expressions are used with precision.

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

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