Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-31

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)

In many countries nowadays, variety of food is available and is easily accessible to people through supermarkets. I think it is a positive development. In this essay, we will discuss some positive aspects of having variety of foods in markets.

In many countries, it is convenient for individuals as there are numerous options of food in local markets. For example, in Wales, a local store named as Tesco offers fruits and other food items from all over the world. It includes different kinds of fruits such as Israeli dates and mangoes. Although, mangoes are more delicious in Pakistan, however people in Europe could get their hands on mangoes as well. Another example includes Japanese noodles easily accessible in Pakistani stores.

In my opinion, this is a positive development. There are many students who shift to another country for their higher studies or work, therefore availability of international food might be very beneficial for them. For instance, an advantage for a person who has moved to Europe from Pakistan is having access to various kinds of food that are easily obtainable. Europe has many grocery stores where desi food is easily available. There are many people from different parts of the world who shift to these countries, and it is a major benefit for them.

In conclusion, consumers could get cultural exposure. For example, exploring desi food in a foreign country. Another positive development indicates exploring Italian food in Pakistan, as it is more convenient instead of travelling to another country for exploring new dishes.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the availability of global food is a positive development. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you provide examples like Tesco in Wales and the availability of 'desi' food, the arguments remain somewhat repetitive, focusing primarily on convenience for migrants and cultural exposure. To reach a higher band, you should explore the broader implications, such as the environmental impact of food miles or the economic effects on local farmers, to provide a more balanced and comprehensive discussion. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not fully synthesize the points made.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'For example', 'In my opinion', and 'In conclusion', to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of cohesive devices is basic. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally repetitive. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph develops a distinct aspect of the argument would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'cultural exposure' and 'easily accessible'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple phrasing. You use the word 'positive' and 'development' repeatedly, which limits the sophistication of your writing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations related to global trade, consumerism, and cultural exchange. For example, instead of 'variety of food', you could use 'a diverse range of culinary products'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'variety of food is available' should be 'a variety of food is available', and 'named as Tesco' is unnatural; 'called Tesco' or simply 'Tesco' would be better. Additionally, there are issues with punctuation and sentence fragments, such as the use of 'however' after a semicolon in the second paragraph. Increasing your control over complex sentence structures and proofreading for minor errors will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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