Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-11

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 5.5)

Well,nowadays tremendous number of people relay on restaurants as compared to home-cooked food. In my opinion, Many new aesthetic cafes and restaurants are opening every day . Our young generation 'Genz' love to visit such cafes , they love to try new coffee and every cafe , they fond of eating fast foods on daily basis , they find such food convenient for them to buy and eat with less efforts . However , there are many benefits of restaurant based foods as well as there are disadvantages also . In reflection of advantages, people find ordering food online very easy there are many online apps from where they order , It reduces effort , Moreover it is time sufficient . At home it takes almost two hours to cook a meal its very tough to cook in hot summer , So citizens find this reliable . In addition there are disadvantages of relying on restaurants and frozen items , because i guess Home cooked meals are more healthy full of protein , and carbs . Restaurant offer small proportion meals with high prices Regularly eating fast food can cause stomach aches , sometimes they use old meat and rotten materials just for the sake of money . They lack of ingredient control and also it is of higher cost . Consequently, i think people should rely on home cooked meals and restaurants there should be a balance in both for a healthy lifestyle . They can dine out on weekends , on some special occasions ,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both the advantages and disadvantages of relying on convenience food. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, while you mention that home-cooked meals are healthier, you could have expanded on the long-term health implications or the social aspects of dining. The position is clear, but the structure of the argument lacks depth. To improve, ensure that each point is supported by a clear explanation or a concrete example, rather than listing several points briefly. The conclusion is a bit abrupt and could be more reflective of the main points discussed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For instance, 'In reflection of advantages' is not a standard idiomatic phrase. There are also issues with punctuation, such as spaces before commas and periods, which disrupts the flow of the text. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the logical development of your argument. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring correct punctuation will significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good' or 'easy' and struggle with collocations. For example, 'time sufficient' is not a standard expression; 'time-efficient' would be more appropriate. There are also some informal choices, such as 'Genz' and 'i guess'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more academic vocabulary and ensure that words are used in their correct context, avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Restaurant offer'), missing articles, and incorrect word forms (e.g., 'they lack of ingredient control'). Punctuation is also a significant issue, with erratic spacing and misuse of commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors will be beneficial.

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