Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-05
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In many countries nowadays, consumers can go to a supermarket and buy food produced all over the world.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The global availability of food in supermarkets is a phenomenon that has transformed the way people shop and eat. Consumers can now purchase food produced all over the world, a development that brings both positive and negative aspects. On balance, I believe that this is a positive development due to the benefits it provides in terms of variety, quality and economic opportunities.
In the first place, the availability of international food products in supermarkets significantly increases variety due to which consumers have access to diverse range of foods that were unavailable and hard to find in the previous years. For instance, individuals in the United States can easily find French cheeses, Japanese sushi and Korean noodles and tropical fruits from the South America. This variety not only satisfies diverse tastes among nations but also encourages to exchange cultural exchange and understanding through food.
Secondly, the global food products can improve the quality of diets. Supermarkets can offer various types of fresh produce and healthy options all around the world providing consumers with better nutritional choices. For example during off-season
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 179 words long. Consequently, the development of ideas is significantly truncated; the essay ends abruptly mid-sentence in the second body paragraph. While you have established a clear position and introduced relevant points regarding variety and quality, the failure to complete the essay and the lack of a conclusion mean that the task is only partially addressed. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full, balanced argument with a clear introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and a concluding summary to meet the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a logical progression of ideas, using transition signals such as 'In the first place' and 'Secondly' to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used, though the second paragraph is incomplete. Cohesive devices are generally used effectively, such as 'This variety not only... but also'. However, because the text is unfinished, the overall structure is incomplete, which impacts the coherence of the final argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that the essay concludes with a cohesive summary that reinforces your initial position.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly, using terms like 'phenomenon', 'diverse range', and 'nutritional choices'. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'encourages to exchange cultural exchange', which is redundant and grammatically awkward. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing to enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'due to which consumers have access to diverse range of foods', where the article 'a' is missing before 'diverse'. Additionally, the sentence structure in the second paragraph is slightly clunky. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a wider variety of complex structures. Focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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