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.

Clothing can reflect a person's religious and cultural identity. Traditional outfits are often worn during religious festivals, weddings, and national celebrations to reflect religious and cultural values which have been passed down by progenitors. For example, Indian women wear sarees and men wear kurtas during cultural events. Such clothing reresents cultural heritage, act as a fabric for the community, and helps people 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.

Conversely, it is diffiicult to judge someone's character simply by looking at what they wear. Modern fashion is strongly influenced by trend, social media, climate, comfort and workplace requirements, therefore a person's character cannot be accurately determined by their clothes. It is possible that people who dress as per the societal norms may possess negative values and immoral character, but those who wear unconventional attractive clothes might possess stronger values and character. People's personalities are shaped by their values, experiences, and behaviour rather than appearance. Therefore, relying on clothing to assess character can easily lead to inncorrect assumptions and unfair stereotype.

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. The best way to understand someone's personality is through their actions and communications.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. Your position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. You provide a balanced argument, acknowledging the link between clothing and culture while effectively refuting the idea that clothing is a reliable indicator of character. The ideas are well-developed, with relevant examples such as the mention of traditional Indian attire and the influence of modern trends like social media and workplace requirements. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question asked, demonstrating a strong ability to present and support a coherent argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices effectively to link your points. For instance, the transition 'Conversely' clearly signals the shift to the counter-argument, and 'In conclusion' appropriately marks the final summary. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate the different aspects of your argument. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between sentences is clear, which makes the essay easy to follow and read.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. You use topic-specific terms such as 'religious observance', 'cultural heritage', 'progenitors', and 'unconventional'. While there are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'reresents' (represents), 'diffiicult' (difficult), and 'inncorrect' (incorrect), these do not impede communication. The use of vocabulary is generally natural and appropriate for the context. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to further enhance the fluency and precision of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'although an individual's choice... I disagree'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is generally strong. There are very occasional slips, such as 'act as a fabric' (which is slightly awkward phrasing) and minor subject-verb agreement issues, but these are non-systematic and do not interfere with the clarity of your message. Your ability to construct complex arguments with grammatical accuracy is a clear strength.

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