Lexical Complexity of IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 Model Answers at Band Score 6

Abstract

This study examined the lexical complexity of IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 model answers rated at Band 6 from IELTS preparation books, aiming to provide practical insights for educators and learners of English as a second language (L2). Lexical complexity was analyzed across three dimensions: lexical sophistication, lexical diversity, and lexical density. These were assessed using VocabProfilers and the Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Lexical Diversity (TAALES). Results showed that 95%-98% of the words in Band 6 model answers fell within the 3,000-4,000 most frequent words on the BNC/COCA-25k word list. In terms of lexical diversity, content word repetition typically began after approximately 99 words, and the MTLD value was around 71. Regarding lexical density, Band 6 responses had an average density of 0.467, suggesting a tendency toward simpler sentence structures and more general vocabulary. The paper concluded with pedagogical implications for English language teaching and learning, particularly in developing writing skills satisfying the requirements of IELTS Academic Writing Task 2.