It is better to buy just a few expensive clothes, rather than lots of cheaper clothes. Do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
In today’s world, fashion and clothes play a significant role in people's lives, and many argue that high-end clothing offers superior quality and durability, making it a more practical choice for most people. However, I disagree with this view and believe that buying multiple affordable clothes is a more beneficial approach, and in this essay, I will outline why.
One key reason for choosing a variety of affordable clothes over a few expensive ones is the flexibility it provides. Fashion trends change frequently, and individuals often want to experiment with different styles and outfits. Purchasing budget-friendly clothing allows people to update their wardrobe regularly without significant financial strain. For example, a student with limited income may prefer to buy several stylish yet inexpensive outfits rather than invest in one luxury item that may soon go out of fashion.
Another important factor is practicality and accessibility. Everyday wear and tear can quickly affect clothing, particularly for those with active lifestyles or physically demanding jobs. Affordable clothes allow people to replace worn-out garments without financial worry. For instance, office workers or manual labourers who require a variety of outfits for different settings benefit from having multiple options rather than relying on a small number of expensive pieces. Additionally, lower-priced clothing brands have improved their quality significantly, making well-made and stylish options accessible to a wider audience.
In conclusion, while expensive clothing may offer durability and prestige, a diverse and cost-effective wardrobe allows individuals to stay stylish, and replace worn-out clothing without financial burden. Given these factors, prioritizing affordability and variety in clothing choices is a more practical and sensible approach.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove lexical overlap Original: fashion and clothes Suggested revision: clothing Why it matters: 'Clothing' conveys the intended topic without the overlap between 'fashion' and 'clothes'.
- 2. Use natural quantity phrase Original: buying multiple affordable clothes Suggested revision: buying several affordable garments Why it matters: 'Several garments' is more natural than using 'multiple' directly with 'clothes'.
- 3. Clarify reference Original: the flexibility it provides Suggested revision: the flexibility this choice provides Why it matters: Naming 'this choice' makes the reference clearer.
- 4. Use a precise verb Original: wear and tear can quickly affect clothing Suggested revision: wear and tear can quickly damage clothes Why it matters: 'Damage' states the effect more precisely than the vague verb 'affect'.
- 5. Improve collocation Original: worry Suggested revision: strain Why it matters: 'Financial strain' is the more natural formal collocation in this context.
- 6. Remove unnecessary comma Original: stay stylish, and replace Suggested revision: stay stylish and replace Why it matters: No comma is needed between two verb phrases sharing the same subject.
- 7. Add missing article Original: without financial burden Suggested revision: without a financial burden Why it matters: The singular countable noun 'burden' requires an article here.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: However, I disagree with this view and believe that buying multiple affordable clothes is a more beneficial approach, and in this essay, I will outline why. Suggested revision: However, I disagree with this view because I believe that buying several affordable garments is the more beneficial approach. Why it matters: The rewrite removes the unnecessary essay announcement and presents the position more directly.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: Additionally, lower-priced clothing brands have improved their quality significantly, making well-made and stylish options accessible to a wider audience. Suggested revision: Additionally, lower-priced clothing brands have significantly improved the quality of their products, making well-made and stylish options accessible to a wider audience. Why it matters: The revision makes clear that the products, rather than the brands themselves, have improved in quality.
- 10. Separate supporting points Suggested revision: Use a clearer transition before the point about improved quality to distinguish it from the wear-and-tear argument. Why it matters: The paragraph contains two related reasons whose relationship would be easier to follow with a stronger transition.
Suggested Rewrites
- fashion and clothes clothing
- buying multiple affordable clothes buying several affordable garments
- the flexibility it provides the flexibility this choice provides
- wear and tear can quickly affect clothing wear and tear can quickly damage clothes
- worry strain
- stay stylish, and replace stay stylish and replace
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response is strongest in its clear, consistent position and well-developed reasons, supported by relevant examples about changing fashions, replacement costs, and improved affordable brands. Its main limitation is that some claims remain somewhat general and the second body paragraph groups several practical points without fully distinguishing them. The highest-priority improvement is to deepen the comparison with expensive clothing by explaining why the stated benefits outweigh durability.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response answers the question directly, maintains a clear disagreement, and develops two relevant reasons with appropriate examples.
Make the evaluation more incisive by explaining why affordability and variety outweigh the durability advantage of expensive garments.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay is logically sequenced, with focused paragraphs and cohesive progression that is easy to follow throughout.
Separate the accessibility and replacement-cost strands more explicitly within the second body paragraph for even sharper progression.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, precise, and natural across the topic, including effective language for cost, quality, fashion, and practicality.
Reduce minor repetition of words such as affordable and clothes by using precise alternatives where they fit naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex and simple structures are combined with strong control, and the few minor punctuation issues do not impede communication.
Polish coordination and comma use, particularly where paired verbs share the same subject.
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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.