# Fast fashion: why and its effects: IELTS Writing Task 2 samples

Writing Task 2 - Environment

Many people now buy cheap clothes and throw them away after wearing them only a few times. Why has this become so common? What effects does this have on the environment?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 6 sample

Nowadays, many people buy cheap clothes and they throw them away after they wear them only few times. This essay will explain why this is happening and what effects it has for the environment.

There are some reasons for this situation. Firstly, clothes are very cheap now. Big fashion companies produce clothes in large factories in countries where wages are low, so a T-shirt can cost less than a lunch. When something is so cheap, people do not care about it and they throw it away easily. Secondly, the fashion is changing very quickly. Shops bring new designs every few weeks and people want to follow the newest trend. Social media also make this problem bigger, because young people see influencers wearing new clothes every day and they do not want to wear the same outfit in their photos. In addition, online shopping is very easy, people can buy clothes with only one click.

This habit has many bad effects on the environment. The first effect is waste. Most old clothes is not recycled and they go to landfill, where they stay for many years. Another effect is pollution from factories. To make clothes, factories use a lot of water and chemicals for dyeing the fabric, and sometimes this dirty water goes in rivers. Also, many cheap clothes are made from plastic fibres like polyester, which do not break down easily.

In conclusion, people throw away clothes because they are cheap, fashion changes fast and social media influence them. This is harmful for the environment because of waste and pollution. I think people should buy less clothes and choose better quality clothes which can last for a long time.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 6 essay answers both questions, and the reasons and effects are relevant and clearly separated. The point about price is explained, but online shopping and the polyester effect get one sentence each, and the essay rarely shows how the habit itself causes the damage. Errors such as "only few times", "most old clothes is" and "buy less clothes", plus a comma splice, are noticeable but do not block meaning. For Band 7, the writer would develop each effect and use more precise environmental vocabulary.

## Band 7 sample

In recent years, clothing has become so inexpensive that many consumers treat it almost as a disposable product, wearing an item a handful of times before replacing it. This essay will explain the main reasons for this behaviour and then consider its environmental consequences.

The most obvious reason is price. Large retailers manufacture garments in enormous quantities, often in countries where labour costs are low, which allows them to sell shirts and dresses for very little. When an item costs so little, there is not much incentive to repair it or keep it for years. In addition, these companies release new collections far more frequently than traditional fashion houses, so customers are constantly encouraged to update their wardrobes. Social media has strengthened this pressure, as people, especially the young, are reluctant to be photographed in the same outfit twice. Online shopping, with its fast delivery and easy returns, makes buying on impulse even simpler.

The environmental effects of this trend are serious. Firstly, most unwanted clothing is not recycled but ends up in landfill sites or is burned, creating huge amounts of waste. Secondly, producing new clothes consumes large quantities of water, particularly for growing cotton, and the dyes and chemicals used in factories can pollute nearby rivers. Furthermore, many cheap garments are made from synthetic materials such as polyester, which release tiny plastic fibres when they are washed, and these eventually reach the sea. Manufacturing and transporting clothes around the world also produces greenhouse gas emissions.

In conclusion, low prices, rapidly changing trends and the influence of social media have made throwaway clothing common. As a result, the environment suffers from growing waste, water pollution and microplastics, so both consumers and manufacturers need to change their habits.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 essay answers both questions clearly, with one paragraph for the reasons and one for the effects. Ideas are relevant and accurately expressed ("labour costs", "synthetic materials"), and the microplastics point is explained step by step. However, the effects are presented as a list held together by "Firstly" and "Secondly", and the emissions point is under-developed. A Band 8 essay would link the reasons and effects more tightly, perhaps by following a garment through its life.

The Band 8 and 9 samples are free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-2/fast-fashion).

## Common questions

### How many words should I write?

At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.