Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

A growing number of people rely on restaurants and convenience food (frozen food and packaged meals) rather than home-cooked food to supply most of their meals.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of eating this way?

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

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Essay: Reliance on Restaurants and Convenience Food

In contemporary society, an increasing number of individuals have shifted away from preparing meals at home, opting instead for restaurant dining and pre-packaged convenience foods. While this trend offers undeniable practical benefits, it also carries significant drawbacks that merit careful consideration.

The primary advantage of this lifestyle lies in the time it saves. Modern professionals often juggle demanding careers, family responsibilities, and social commitments, leaving little room for grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking. Convenience food eliminates these time-consuming tasks, allowing people to redirect their energy toward work or leisure. Additionally, restaurants and ready-made meals provide access to culinary variety that would be difficult to replicate at home. A working parent, for instance, might sample authentic Thai curry one evening and Italian pasta the next, without needing specialized ingredients or skills for either cuisine. For those living alone or lacking cooking expertise, such options also ensure a balanced intake of food without the trial and error of learning to cook.

Nevertheless, this convenience comes at a considerable cost, particularly to health. Restaurant meals and packaged foods are frequently high in sodium, saturated fat, and preservatives, as these ingredients enhance flavor and extend shelf life. Regular consumption has been linked to obesity, hypertension, and other diet-related illnesses, a correlation well documented in countries such as the United States, where fast-food dependency coincides with rising obesity rates. Financially, this habit is also unsustainable for many, since dining out consistently costs considerably more than purchasing raw ingredients and cooking at home. Beyond health and economics, there is a subtler social cost: the erosion of family mealtimes. Cooking and eating together has traditionally fostered bonding and communication, a tradition that risks disappearing when families default to takeout or microwave dinners eaten separately.

In conclusion, while convenience food offers valuable time savings and variety, particularly for busy individuals, its long-term health, financial, and social costs are considerable. I believe a balanced approach—reserving convenience food for occasional use while prioritizing home-cooked meals—offers the most sustainable solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly identified both the advantages (time-saving, culinary variety) and the disadvantages (health risks, financial costs, social impact). Your position is consistent throughout, and the ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of Thai curry and the reference to obesity rates in the United States. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your arguments and provides a balanced final perspective. The response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt, demonstrating a clear understanding of the requirements for a Task 2 essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is handled smoothly with the use of 'Nevertheless'. You employ a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Additionally', 'For instance', and 'Beyond health and economics', which help to guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between sentences is clear, meeting the criteria for a high band score in this category.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which allows for precise expression of your ideas. Phrases like 'contemporary society', 'culinary variety', 'trial and error', and 'erosion of family mealtimes' show a sophisticated command of language. The collocations are generally natural and accurate, such as 'undeniable practical benefits' and 'sustainable solution'. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling, and the vocabulary is well-suited to the formal tone required for an IELTS essay. Your ability to use less common lexical items effectively contributes to the overall quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types. For example, your use of participial phrases ('leaving little room for...') and conditional structures is accurate and adds sophistication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There are no noticeable grammatical slips that impede communication. The variety of sentence forms used—from simple to complex—is handled with high precision, demonstrating a strong command of English grammar throughout the entire response.

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