Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-27

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

It is important for everyone, including young people, to save money for their future.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

In many countries, supermarkets now offer food products from almost every part of the world. Although this trend can cause some environmental and economic problems, I believe it is a largely positive development because it gives consumers greater choice and encourages international trade.

One major advantage of globally available food is that consumers have access to a much wider range of products. In the past, people mainly depended on food that was produced locally, but modern supermarkets allow them to purchase fruits, vegetables, spices and other products from different countries. This is particularly useful for people who enjoy international cuisine or need specific ingredients. For example, a customer in Bangladesh can buy Italian pasta, Japanese sauces or fruits imported from other countries. As a result, people can enjoy a more varied diet and experience different food cultures without travelling abroad.

Another important benefit is that international food trade creates economic opportunities. Farmers and food producers can sell their products to customers in foreign markets, which can increase their income and support employment. In addition, consumers can sometimes obtain food that is not available or cannot be produced locally because of climate or geographical conditions. For instance, countries with cold climates may import tropical fruits from warmer regions. Therefore, international trade can help countries meet consumer demand throughout the year.

However, transporting food over long distances can have negative environmental effects because trucks, ships and aircraft consume fuel and produce carbon emissions. Imported products can also be more expensive than locally produced food. Nevertheless, these disadvantages can be reduced by improving transport systems and encouraging consumers to choose locally produced food when suitable alternatives are available.

In conclusion, although selling food from around the world may create environmental concerns, I believe the wider choice, cultural benefits and economic opportunities make this a positive development overall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 2.0

The student has written an essay that addresses the prompt regarding global food trade, but there is a major issue: the prompt provided to the student in the instructions asks about saving money for the future, whereas the student's text discusses supermarkets offering food products from around the world. This indicates a severe mismatch between the task instructions and the student's response. While the essay itself is coherent and well-structured, the content fails to address the specific question about saving money. Consequently, the task response is heavily penalised for being completely off-topic relative to the official prompt provided, meriting a band score of 2.0 based on official descriptors for off-topic writing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

Despite the off-topic content, the structural organisation of the essay is actually of a high standard. The text is divided into logical paragraphs with clear central topics. For instance, the second paragraph introduces consumer choice, the third explores economic benefits, and the fourth addresses environmental drawbacks. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'In the past', 'Another important benefit', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. The overall arrangement demonstrates a clear logical progression and good management of cohesion, fully deserving of a band 7.0 for this criterion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using topical collocations and less common lexical items such as 'international cuisine', 'geographical conditions', and 'carbon emissions'. Word choice is generally precise, as seen in phrases like 'greater choice', 'economic opportunities', and 'environmentally negative effects'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is not fully sophisticated or native-like in every instance, it comfortably meets the requirements for a band 6.5 or 7.0, showing good control and awareness of academic style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer exhibits a good control of grammar and punctuation throughout the response. A variety of complex structures are used successfully, such as concessive clauses ('Although this trend can cause...') and conditional or causal structures ('which can increase their income...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and any minor slips do not impede communication. Punctuation is accurate, and verb tenses are handled correctly. The grammatical range and accuracy are strong, reflecting solid upper-intermediate proficiency that fits comfortably into the band 7.0 category.

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