It is better to buy just a few expensive clothes, rather than lots of cheaper clothes. Do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Some argue that having fewer higher-quality garments is a wiser choice than buying many cheap dresses. This essay will present arguments in favour of purchasing a few expensive clothes and demonstrate how this approach can lead to a more sustainable and rewarding shopping experience.
To commence with, buying a few costly clothes of superior quality and longevity offers better durability and saves money in the long run. Superior-quality garments are often made from premium materials and crafted with greater attention to detail, resulting in better durability and resistance to wear and tear. This practice is proven to be a money-saver as well. For instance, a well-tailored suit made from fine wool may initially be more expensive, but its durability ensures that it remains in excellent condition even after years of use. In contrast, cheaper alternatives may lose shape and colour after a few washes, necessitating frequent replacements and costing more money.
Moreover, the durability of expensive clothes contributes to reducing overall consumption and waste, aligning with the principles of sustainability. By investing in fewer items of better quality, individuals can actively participate in promoting environmentally conscious practices. The fast fashion trend, in which people buy fashionable clothing items at an affordable price but wear them only for a few days, is one of the contributors to environmental degradation. Our consumerism habits of purchasing expensive but fewer clothing items could reverse the damages caused to mother nature.
Finally, buying a few expensive clothes cultivates a more refined and sophisticated personal style. Premium clothing often boasts unique designs and expert craftsmanship, allowing individuals to express their personality and taste with elegance. For example, wearing a designer dress tailored to perfection can make a strong fashion statement and instil confidence in the wearer.
In conclusion, buying a few expensive clothes rather than numerous cheaper ones presents several genuine advantages and therefore should be practised by consumers. While affordability may be a consideration for some, the long-term benefits of purchasing high-quality clothes justify this approach as a sound investment in one's wardrobe and overall environmental benefits.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Match the clothing category Original: cheap dresses Suggested revision: cheaper clothes Why it matters: Dresses names only one garment type, while the comparison concerns clothing in general.
- 2. Use natural opener Original: commence Suggested revision: begin Why it matters: To begin with is the conventional transition for introducing the first argument.
- 3. Tighten clothing description Original: costly clothes of superior quality and longevity Suggested revision: high-quality, long-lasting clothes Why it matters: The adjective phrase conveys quality and durability more directly and naturally.
- 4. Use direct verb phrase Original: contributes to reducing Suggested revision: helps reduce Why it matters: The shorter verb phrase expresses the same causal relationship more directly.
- 5. Remove inflated wording Original: participate in promoting Suggested revision: promote Why it matters: The direct verb retains the meaning without an unnecessary verbal phrase.
- 6. Use consumption collocation Original: consumerism Suggested revision: consumption Why it matters: Consumption habits is the established phrase for patterns of purchasing and use.
- 7. Order comparison clearly Original: expensive but fewer clothing items Suggested revision: fewer but more expensive clothing items Why it matters: Fewer must modify the plural noun, while more expensive supplies the required comparison.
- 8. Use uncountable damage Original: damages Suggested revision: damage Why it matters: Damage is uncountable when referring generally to environmental harm.
- 9. Capitalize proper name Original: mother nature Suggested revision: Mother Nature Why it matters: Mother Nature is a personified proper name and takes initial capitals.
- 10. Use approach collocation Original: practised Suggested revision: adopted Why it matters: An approach is adopted rather than practised in this context.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: This practice is proven to be a money-saver as well. Suggested revision: This practice can also save money. Why it matters: The rewrite replaces the unsupported passive construction with a clear modal claim.
- 12. Sentence rewrite Original: While affordability may be a consideration for some, the long-term benefits of purchasing high-quality clothes justify this approach as a sound investment in one's wardrobe and overall environmental benefits. Suggested revision: While affordability may be a consideration for some, the long-term benefits of purchasing high-quality clothes justify this approach as a sound investment in one's wardrobe and the environment. Why it matters: The rewrite restores parallel meaning after investment in while preserving the stated personal and environmental benefits.
Suggested Rewrites
- cheap dresses cheaper clothes
- commence begin
- costly clothes of superior quality and longevity high-quality, long-lasting clothes
- contributes to reducing helps reduce
- participate in promoting promote
- consumerism consumption
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear and consistently maintained position, with well-developed arguments about durability, sustainability, and personal style supported by relevant examples. Its main limitation is occasional repetition and awkward phrasing, particularly around durability and environmental impact; the priority is to tighten overlapping points and refine collocations so the otherwise fluent argument becomes more concise and precise.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout, and three relevant reasons are fully developed with specific explanations and examples.
Make the sustainability claim more measured by explaining how reduced replacement demand could lessen waste rather than reverse environmental damage.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is logically sequenced in focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices and comparisons used effectively throughout.
Reduce repetition between durability and long-term cost savings so each paragraph advances a more distinct part of the argument.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is broad and generally precise, although a few combinations such as consumerism habits and reverse the damages sound unnatural.
Refine collocations by using phrases such as consumer habits, fewer expensive garments, and reduce environmental damage.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, with only occasional awkwardness in heavily extended sentences.
Tighten the final sentence so its comparison and parallel structure remain fully controlled.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
It is better to buy just a few expensive clothes, rather than lots of cheaper clothes. Do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.