Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-24

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 7.5)

Today, shoppers can easily purchase imported food items from across the entire globe at local supermarkets. I consider this a largely positive trend because it broadens dietary options, despite giving rise to minor environmental concerns.

First, the availability of international produce greatly enhances diet diversity for local consumers. Supermarkets now regularly stock exotic fruits, vegetables, and specialty ingredients throughout the entire year, regardless of the domestic growing season. Consequently, people can enjoy nutritious and varied meals that were previously inaccessible in their regions. Moreover, exposure to global food cultures encourages culinary creativity and promotes healthier eating habits overall. Therefore, having access to imported groceries directly improves the overall quality of daily life and consumer choice for millions of households worldwide.

However, the primary concern associated with international food transportation is its severe environmental impact. Transporting goods across vast distances via ships and airplanes generates substantial carbon emissions, which accelerates global climate change significantly. Additionally, relying heavily on foreign imports can harm local farmers, as they struggle to compete with lower-priced mass-produced goods from abroad. This financial strain often weakens domestic agricultural economies over time. Therefore, while international trade offers convenience, the ecological footprint, high fuel consumption, and potential damage to local farming industries remain significant disadvantages that cannot be completely ignored by policy makers worldwide.

In conclusion, while selling international food causes environmental issues and challenges local farmers, the main benefits of greater culinary variety, convenience, and improved dietary choices make it a positive overall development for modern consumers worldwide.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The arguments are well-developed, with the first body paragraph focusing on the benefits of dietary diversity and the second addressing the environmental and economic drawbacks. The ideas are extended with relevant explanations, such as the mention of carbon emissions and the impact on local farmers. The conclusion effectively synthesises your position, confirming the development as positive despite the identified challenges. The response is balanced and demonstrates a clear understanding of the prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Moreover', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct arguments. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between sentences is well-managed, ensuring that the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases like 'dietary options', 'culinary creativity', 'carbon emissions', and 'domestic agricultural economies' show a strong command of topic-specific language. The vocabulary is used with precision, and there are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated idiomatic expressions or less common collocations could elevate the response further, but the current level is already quite strong and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'Therefore, while international trade offers convenience, the ecological footprint... remain significant disadvantages'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of accuracy, which is consistent with the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

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