Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-27

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)

Currently, food from many countries can be easily obtained by consumers worldwide. I believe this is a positive development because these days, people have hectic schedules. So, they can easily get food from different markets.

First of all, people may not have enough time to produce their own food because they have a heavy load of work and are swamped with it. In addition, they could not know how to farm the food. For example, a worker who is a citizen and may find it difficult to do farming but is an expert in marketing. As a result, getting food from markets and malls is more reliable than production.

In contrast, many people think that the farmers who farm their own food are getting a pure form of food, although the grocer who buys the food from markets cannot. Fruits and vegetables contain impurities by using different chemicals, which is why people living in cities have more health issues than villagers. For instance, a rural man who is taking naturally growing food is more energetic than the urban man.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 179 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you state a position, the arguments are underdeveloped and lack sufficient depth or specific examples to support the claims. The discussion regarding the 'positive' aspect is brief, and the counter-argument regarding health issues is somewhat disconnected from the main prompt about global food availability. To improve, you must expand your points with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a full exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat simplistic. While you use basic cohesive devices like 'First of all', 'In addition', and 'In contrast', the connection between the paragraphs is weak. The transition from the benefits of global food to the health concerns of urban living feels abrupt. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph flows logically into the next, creating a more cohesive argument throughout the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'get food', 'do farming', and 'have a heavy load of work' are functional but lack the precision and sophistication expected at higher levels. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic collocations. To improve, focus on using more academic vocabulary related to trade, agriculture, and consumerism. For example, instead of 'get food', use 'access a diverse range of imported produce'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the range is limited. There are several grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'they could not know how to farm' (should be 'do not know') and 'a rural man who is taking naturally growing food' (awkward phrasing). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall fluency. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of relative clauses and modal verbs to express ideas more accurately.

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

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