Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16

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)

Nowadays, people go to the supermarket and buy snacks from other countries. In my opinion, this is a positive development because people can learn about other cultures through their food, try new things, and have plenty of food choices. This essay will discuss about importing snacks from other countries.

One of the main advantages of buying trying snacks from other countries is that people can learn about different cultures through food. When people try foreign snacks, they may become curious about the country they come from and learn more about its traditions. For example, Japanese snacks may encourage people to learn more about Japanese culture.

People can have more variety when choosing what to eat. Foreign snacks give consumers access to new flavours and products that might not be available locally. For example, supermarkets may sell Japanese, American, and Korean snacks, giving customers plenty of choices.

Trying new snacks may encourage you to travel to the country it was made from and this might be a new experience you never had before. For example if you tried an American snack, you would like to visit America and try new things there like American food, drinks, and snacks.

In conclusion, I believe that the availability of foreign snacks is a positive development because it allows people to learn about other cultures and gives them more food choices. Overall, importing foreign snacks can benefit consumers by increasing their choices and helping them understand different cultures and traditions, it can broaden cultures' awareness.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses the prompt by arguing that the availability of global food products is a positive development. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout. However, the scope of your argument is somewhat narrow, as you focus almost exclusively on 'snacks' rather than the broader concept of 'food produced all over the world' mentioned in the prompt. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat repetitive, particularly the link between food and culture, which appears in both the second and fourth paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure you explore the implications of global food trade more comprehensively, perhaps touching upon economic or environmental aspects to provide a more balanced and sophisticated discussion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as cultural learning or variety. You use basic cohesive devices like 'For example' and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. However, the progression between ideas is sometimes mechanical, and the final sentence of the essay is a comma splice ('...traditions, it can broaden...'), which disrupts the flow. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your sentences are connected with more sophisticated transitions rather than relying on simple list-like structures.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'curious,' 'traditions,' and 'availability' correctly. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the frequent use of the word 'snacks.' The range is sufficient to communicate your ideas clearly, but there is a lack of less common or idiomatic expressions that would elevate the response. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and academic collocations related to global trade and cultural exchange to show a greater degree of lexical flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are recurring grammatical issues. For instance, you use 'discuss about' (the verb 'discuss' should not be followed by 'about') and 'the country it was made from' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). There are also minor punctuation errors, such as the comma splice in the conclusion. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on refining your use of prepositions and ensuring that complex sentences are punctuated correctly.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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