Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-01

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 6.5)

Nowadays, many people prefer eating at restaurants or buying packaged meals instead of cooking at home. This trend far more popular because people have busy lifestyles. Although this habit has several benefits, it also has some disadvantages. This essay will discuss both sides with relevant examples.

To begin with, one of the main advantages of eating restaurant food is that it saves time. Many people work long hours and do not have enough time to prepare meals at home. For example, students and working professionals often buy read-made food because it is quick and convenient. In addition, restautrants offer different types of food, allowing people to enjoy various dishes without spending time cocking. Therefore, eating outside can make life easier.

However, there are several disadvantages to relying on restaurant food and packaged meals. Firstly, food may contain too much sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, which can cause health problems. For example, eating fast food regularly may increase the risk of obesity and heart disease. Secondly, buying meals from restaurants every day can be expensive compared to preparing meals at home. Furthermore, home-cooked meals provide quality, quntity and reduce daily basis expense. As a result, coocking at home is often healthier and more affordable option.

In conclusion, eating restaurant food and convenience meals has both advantages and disadvantages. While it saves time and provides different food choices, it can also affect people's health and increase their daily expenses. In my opinion, people should eat home-coocked meals regularly and choose restaurant food ocassionally.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both advantages and disadvantages and gives a clear overall view: convenience and choice are balanced against health risks and cost. The examples about busy students and workers, and the possible risks of obesity and heart disease, are relevant to the question. This meets the core requirements well. To make the discussion more fully developed, explain the points that are currently asserted rather than explored—for instance, specify how packaged meals may differ nutritionally from restaurant meals, or give a concrete comparison of the cost of buying meals versus cooking at home. The claim that home cooking provides “quality, quantity” is also unclear and would benefit from a precise explanation. The conclusion gives a consistent recommendation, though its reasoning could be tied more explicitly to the points discussed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear four-paragraph structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “To begin with,” “However,” “Firstly,” and “In conclusion” help the reader understand the organisation. Examples are generally placed next to the points they support. Some linking is a little mechanical, however, and the disadvantage paragraph moves from health to cost and then to home cooking without fully explaining the relationship between these ideas. The phrase “Furthermore, home-cooked meals provide quality, quantity and reduce daily basis expense” is difficult to connect to the preceding point. Use clearer referencing and transitions, and make each paragraph develop its ideas in a more connected sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “packaged meals,” “convenient,” “unhealthy fats,” and “risk of obesity and heart disease.” There is some useful variation in describing the benefits and drawbacks. However, spelling mistakes and imprecise or unnatural word choices are noticeable, including “read-made,” “restautrants,” “cocking,” “quntity,” and “home-coocked.” Phrases such as “daily basis expense” and “provide quality, quantity” are also unclear or unidiomatic. These slips do not prevent the reader from understanding the overall argument, but they limit precision and fluency. Proofread spelling carefully and learn common collocations for discussing nutrition, affordability, and meal preparation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The essay includes a mix of simple sentences and more complex forms, such as “Although this habit has several benefits, it also has some disadvantages” and “While it saves time and provides different food choices, it can also affect people's health.” Most ideas remain clear, and the paragraph structure supports understanding. Some grammatical errors persist, including the missing verb in “This trend far more popular” (it needs “is”), the missing article in “more affordable option,” and the awkward construction “reduce daily basis expense.” There is also a sentence fragment-like opening in “Furthermore, home-cooked meals provide quality, quantity and reduce…” because the list is not grammatically parallel. Check articles, verb forms, and parallel structure, while continuing to use subordinate clauses.

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