Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17

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 7.0)

In many countries, supermarkets now offer food products that are imported from all over the world. Although this development may have some negative consequences for local producers and the environment, I believe that it is generally positive because it provides consumers with greater choice and access to different cultures.

One major advantage of having internationally produced food available is that consumers have a much wider range of choices. People are no longer limited to products that are grown or manufactured in their own country. For example, supermarkets may sell fruits that cannot be naturally grown in certain climates, as well as traditional foods from countries such as Japan, Italy or Mexico. This allows consumers to experience different cuisines and can make their diets more varied. Furthermore, international trade can create economic opportunities for food producers by giving them access to foreign markets.

However, there are also some disadvantages to this trend. The transportation of food over long distances can contribute to environmental problems because large amounts of fuel are required to move products between countries. In addition, local farmers may struggle to compete with cheaper imported products. If consumers increasingly choose foreign goods, domestic producers could lose customers and, in some cases, traditional local food industries could decline.

In conclusion, while the global availability of food can negatively affect the environment and local producers, I believe that it is a positive development overall. The greater variety and cultural experience available to consumers outweigh these disadvantages, particularly if governments encourage sustainable transportation and support local farmers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. The arguments regarding consumer choice and cultural exposure are well-developed, as are the counter-arguments concerning environmental impact and local economic struggles. The ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as the mention of specific cuisines and the impact on local farmers. The conclusion effectively synthesizes the points made, providing a balanced view that fulfills the requirements of the task. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question posed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'However'. The use of referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points. The flow of the argument is natural, and the reader is guided through the writer's reasoning without any confusion. The cohesion is managed well throughout the text, contributing to a coherent and easy-to-follow response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The writer demonstrates a good range of topic-specific language, such as 'imported products', 'economic opportunities', 'sustainable transportation', and 'domestic producers'. While the vocabulary is accurate and conveys meaning clearly, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would characterize a higher band score. However, the word choice is precise and there are no errors that impede communication. The range is adequate to express complex ideas clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('If consumers increasingly choose...') and concessive clauses ('Although this development may have...'). The grammar is generally accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant grammatical slips that hinder the reader's understanding. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a solid command of English grammar suitable for an academic context.

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