IELTS Writing Task 2 Samples – Band 5, 6, 8 with Real Feedback
Looking for real IELTS Writing Task 2 samples with band scores and expert feedback? On this page, you’ll find three essays written by candidates at different levels — Band 5, Band 6, and Band 7.5. Each includes tutor feedback from Bruno, Carmen, or Alan, helping you see exactly what examiners look for at each level.
Interviews form the basic selecting criteria for most large companies. However, some people think that the interview is not a reliable method of choosing whom to employ. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Candidate response
Interview is the main way for big companies to hire new worker. But many people think this not good way to choose the worker. I think interview is not always good.
When people go to interview, they feel nervous and cannot show real self. This is big problem. Maybe they forget answer or speak bad English. But maybe they are very smart in the job. So interview not always fair.
Also some people good at talking but not good at working. They say good thing in interview, but after get job, not work good. So company make mistake.
Company should do more thing like test or see CV or give small job first. Then they can know better.
So I don’t think interview is best way. It can be use but not only way.
You answer the question and give reasons why interviews are not always the best method, but the ideas are very basic and not fully developed. For example, you say “company should do more thing like test” but do not explain how this would work or give a clear example.
Your essay has short paragraphs but ideas do not link smoothly. You often just start a new sentence without a clear connector. Try using linkers like “For example,” or “As a result,” to guide the reader.
Your vocabulary is simple and repeated. To improve, try: “big companies → large corporations,” “good at working → competent,” “small job → trial task.”
Frequent errors with articles, verb forms, and plurals make your writing less accurate. Work on sentence structure and subject–verb agreement.
Original: “Interview is the main way for big companies to hire new worker.” — Corrected: “An interview is the main way for big companies to hire new workers.” — Added article “An” and plural “workers” for accuracy.
- Explain each idea with an example
- Use more linking words
- Vary your vocabulary
- Check articles and plurals
- Write at least 250 words
Your strength is that you answered the question and kept your ideas clear. The main issues are underdeveloped ideas and grammar mistakes, especially with articles and plurals. Next time, aim to give one example for each main point and link your ideas more smoothly. Also, expand your vocabulary to avoid repeating basic words. Keep practising with full 250+ word essays — this will give you more space to explain your ideas and reach a higher band.
— Bruno, your IELTS Writing Mentor (v4.0)
Want feedback like this for your writing? Submit your essay here.
Sample 2 Mid-Band essay
Some believe that the government should support artists like musicians, painters, and poets, while others argue that this is a misuse of funds. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Candidate response
Some people think government should pay money to artists like painters and musicians. Others think this is not a good use of money. I believe the government should support them, but only when there is enough budget after important services.
One side says that spending money on artists is wasteful. They think this money should go to hospitals, roads, or education instead. These things help everyone in the country. If the government spends money on artists, they think it is not fair to other workers or people in need.
However, other people believe that artists give beauty to our world. Art, music, and poems help people express feelings and learn about their culture. Some artists are very talented but cannot earn much money. If the government helps them, they can make more great work for the public to enjoy.
I think both sides have points. But I believe artists should get some help from the government, especially young or new artists. As long as money is not taken from essential services, it is good to support the arts.
In conclusion, government should support artists, but only after making sure other important areas have enough money.
The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, but ideas are expressed in a simple manner and lack depth. Key points are stated without detailed explanation or analysis (e.g., “artists give beauty to our world” could be expanded with examples of economic or social benefits). The position is consistent but not fully developed to meet the higher band requirements. To move towards Band 7+, support each claim with specific evidence, logical reasoning, and more sophisticated examples.
The essay is well-organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, cohesion within paragraphs is basic, relying heavily on simple linkers (“However,” “But,” “As long as”). More variety in cohesive devices (“Nonetheless,” “In contrast,” “This suggests that”) would enhance flow. Some transitions between sentences are abrupt, and ideas could be connected more explicitly to reinforce the argument.
Vocabulary is functional but limited. Phrases like “give beauty to our world” and “good use of money” are repetitive and informal for academic writing. To improve, use more precise and academic expressions (e.g., “enhance cultural enrichment,” “prudent allocation of resources”). Introduce topic-specific vocabulary for government funding and the arts to demonstrate range and accuracy.
Sentence structures are mostly simple with occasional complex sentences. Errors are minor but noticeable (e.g., missing articles, awkward phrasing). Increasing the range of complex sentence types — such as concessive clauses (“While some may argue…”) or conditional structures (“If governments were to fund the arts…”) — would help achieve a higher band.
Original: “Some people think government should pay money to artists…” → Corrected: “Some people think the government should provide financial support to artists…” (adds article and formal tone)
Original: “They think it is not fair to other workers or people in need.” → Corrected: “They argue that such funding may be inequitable to other professions or vulnerable groups.” (more precise and formal)
Expand one example with statistics or research
Replace 3 informal phrases with academic terms
Write 2 conditional sentences about funding policies
Use “Nonetheless” or “In contrast” in a paragraph
Add one cause-effect sentence to a past essay
Practice synonyms for “support” and “money”
Revise this essay with stronger linking phrases
Original: “Art, music, and poems help people express feelings and learn about their culture.”
Improved: “Art, music, and literature foster emotional expression and promote cultural awareness, enriching both individual lives and collective identity.”
Why it’s better: Uses formal vocabulary, varied structure, and academic tone.
You have a clear understanding of the topic and can present both perspectives with balance. To reach Band 7.5, focus on developing arguments with greater detail, upgrading vocabulary to an academic register, and incorporating more complex sentence structures. With targeted practice on cohesion and depth of explanation, your writing can achieve the sophistication needed for higher bands.
Want feedback like this for your writing? Submit your essay here.
Alan – Detailed Diagnostic Feedback for a High-Band essay
Many aspects of the way people dress today are influenced by global fashion trends. How has global fashion become such a strong influence on people’s lives? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Candidate response
Nowadays, more and more people are following global fashion trends, which can be seen from the way they dress. There is no doubt that global fashion has become a strong influence on people’s lives. In this essay, I will explain the reasons behind this trend and discuss whether it is a positive or negative development.
The rise of the internet and social media is one of the most important factors that make global fashion so influential. In the past, people only knew about local styles, but now, they can easily watch videos, see photos, and read news from all over the world. Many celebrities and fashion bloggers share their clothes and opinions online, which attracts a lot of attention from young people. In addition, the development of global trade allows people to buy clothes from foreign brands easily and at a cheaper price than before.
In my opinion, I think this trend has both good and bad sides. On the one hand, it allows people to express themselves more freely and try different styles from different cultures. This can increase their confidence and creativity. Also, it helps countries to understand each other better by sharing fashion and culture. However, on the other hand, it can cause people to forget their traditional clothing and values. Especially for young generation, they may care too much about appearance and ignore what is more important inside. Also, not everyone can afford to buy new clothes all the time, which may lead to comparison and pressure.
In conclusion, global fashion becomes more and more powerful because of online influence and easier shopping. I believe it has both positive and negative effects, but we should be careful not to lose our culture and put too much focus on appearance.
🔧 Corrections (Grammar & Vocabulary Mark-Up)
Inline fixes appear in green after a strike-through. Superscripts refer to brief explanations below.
Nowadays, more and moreincreasing numbers of1 people are following global fashion trends, which can be seen from the way they dress. There is no doubt that global fashion has become a strong influence on people’s lives. In this essay, I will explain the reasons behind this trend and discuss whether it is a positive or negative development.
The rise of the internet and social media is one of the most important factors that makemakes2 global fashion so influential. In the past, people only knew about local styles, but now,now3 they can easily watch videos, see photos, and read news from all over the world. Many celebrities and fashion bloggers share their clothes and opinions online, which attracts a lot of attention from young people. In addition, the development of global trade allows people to buy clothes from foreign brands easily and at a cheaper pricelower prices4 than before.
In my opinion, I thinkIn my opinion,5 this trend has both good and bad sides. On the one hand, it allows people to express themselves more freely and try different styles from different cultures. This can increase their confidence and creativity. Also, it helps countries to understand each other better by sharing fashion and culture. However, on the other hand,on the other hand6, it can cause people to forget their traditional clothing and values. Especially for young generationthe younger generation7, they may care too much about appearance and ignore what is more important insidein life8. Also, not everyone can afford to buy new clothes all the time, which may lead to comparison and pressure.
In conclusion, global fashion becomesis becoming9 more and more powerful because of online influence and easier shopping. I believe it has both positive and negative effects, but we should be careful not to lose our culture and put too much focus onplace too much emphasis on10 appearance.
⚡ Quick Wins
- Delete redundancy: “In my opinion, I think”.
- Use fixed phrases: “the younger generation”.
- Prefer concise collocations: “lower prices”.
- Keep tense consistent for ongoing trends.
- Vary linkers beyond “also/however”.
This section focuses on surface-level grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation. See the scoring sections below for ideas, structure, and development.
You address the prompt directly: causes of global fashion’s influence and an evaluation of its effects. A clear position appears in the introduction and conclusion, and both sides are explored. Development is generally sufficient, e.g., social media exposure and access via global trade. However, some claims would benefit from more specific evidence (e.g., a brief statistic or concrete example of cultural loss/pressure). Excerpt: “This can increase their confidence and creativity” (assertion without support). One precise example per body paragraph would lift this to the high end of Band 7.
Paragraphing is clear (intro–two body–conclusion) and ideas progress logically from causes to evaluation. Linkers are accurate but somewhat repetitive (“also”, “however”). Sentences are mostly well connected, though a few commas disrupt flow (e.g., superfluous comma after “now”). For polish, vary transitions (“moreover”, “by contrast”, “as a result”) and use topic sentences that signal argument direction (e.g., “Beyond visibility, global commerce amplifies uptake by reducing prices”).
Range is adequate with some less-common items (influential, comparison, pressure). Word choice is mostly accurate, but a few phrases are informal or vague (“good and bad sides”, “inside”). Consider tighter alternatives: advantages / drawbacks, identity / mental well-being, amplifies adoption, cultural erosion. Collocation upgrades: “at lower prices”, “place emphasis on appearance”. With more precise lexis across the body paragraphs, this could approach Band 8.
Meaning is consistently clear with some complex structures (relative clauses, concessive linking). Occasional slips in agreement, punctuation and article choice keep this at Band 6. Expand the variety of complex sentences (non-defining clauses, participle phrases) and tighten comma use.
Original: “The rise of the internet… factors that make global fashion so influential.” → Corrected: “The rise… is one of the factors that makes global fashion so influential.” (agreement after “one of the”).
Original: “Now, they can easily watch videos…” → Corrected: “Now they can easily watch videos…” (unnecessary comma after adverb).
1) Add one specific statistic/example per body paragraph (e.g., a platform or brand illustrating uptake or cultural effects).
2) Upgrade two linkers per paragraph (e.g., “moreover / consequently / conversely”) and craft sharper topic sentences.
3) Grammar polish: practise agreement after “one of the…”, delete superfluous commas, and build one non-defining clause in each paragraph.
Global fashion has gained unusual influence over how people dress, largely because styles now travel at the speed of a swipe. I agree that the trend brings both benefits and risks. While it broadens choice and allows individuals to signal identity, it can also sideline local traditions and elevate appearance over well-being.
First, visibility and access have expanded dramatically. Social platforms circulate outfits worn by celebrities and micro-influencers within hours, and recommendation feeds repeatedly surface similar looks. When a K-pop group showcases coordinated streetwear, for instance, high-street retailers release budget versions within weeks, letting teenagers participate at lower prices. This rapid diffusion supports creativity and gives young people a simple way to belong to a community.
However, global fashion can flatten cultural variety and intensify social pressure. Imported styles may displace traditional garments that carry meaning—festival dress becomes a costume rather than living culture. In addition, constant comparison online encourages perfectionism. A recent school wellbeing survey in my city reported students felt “judged” if they repeated outfits during the week, which suggests the trend can feed consumerism rather than self-expression.
Overall, global fashion is neither wholly positive nor harmful; its impact depends on how we engage with it. Schools and media can promote sustainable habits—repairing clothes, swapping with friends, and valuing design history—so teenagers enjoy variety without abandoning local identity. If we pair wider access with conscious choices, fashion can enrich personal style while keeping culture and wellbeing at the centre.
You’ve produced a clear, balanced response with logical paragraphing and a steady line of argument. Your strengths are clarity and an ability to weigh benefits against risks. To step up, add one concise example per body paragraph, vary your linkers, and tighten agreement and comma use. Keep your tone formal with precise lexis. You’re close to the next band—polish the grammar and evidence, and you’ll be there.
Want feedback like this for your writing? Submit your essay here.
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