Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-09

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, many supermarkets have the authority to sell foods that belong to international chains. Such food items are easily available to the consumers of the country and they can buy it on their own convenience. However, it is my contention that this facility is a negative development for the country.

Supermarkets tend to have a variety of items including food and others to alleviate their reputation and create a global benchmark. However, this facility can pose as a threat to the local producers as major competitors. No doubt that global food products are of better quality but they reduce the buying trend of consumers towards their local items. For instance, consumers nowadays prefer to buy branded chocolate spread instead of their own country's product. Moreover, not everyone can afford an imported food item. Food is a necessity for everyone but food items like condiments, canned food etc. from other parts of the world are not affordable for everyone.

Another reason to disregard the statement is because of high import taxes to bring the item to the country. If the trend of consuming international foods rises it is likely to cause an economical restraint. Additionally, the local food manufacturing companies will also face financial losses leading to further economic burden.

Putting everything in a nutshell, although variety and diversity in existing food categories is surely an attraction for consumers. However, consumers should promote their own country's products to reduce competition and help flourish the local manufacturers. This will not only create economic stability but also all types of consumers will be able to buy the food available.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against the availability of global food products. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention economic concerns and local competition, the arguments could be more thoroughly extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis. The introduction is clear, but the body paragraphs rely on generalisations. For instance, the claim that 'global food products are of better quality' is a broad assertion that could be nuanced. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main point is supported by a concrete explanation or a more detailed illustration of the consequences, rather than just stating the potential negative impacts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Putting everything in a nutshell' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing. For example, in the second paragraph, the phrase 'disregard the statement' is slightly confusing as it refers to the prompt's topic rather than a specific argument. Additionally, the use of 'However' at the start of consecutive sentences in the second paragraph creates a repetitive flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'alleviate their reputation', 'global benchmark', and 'economic stability'. However, there are some instances of imprecise word choice or awkward collocations. For example, 'alleviate their reputation' is not the correct usage of 'alleviate' in this context; 'enhance' or 'bolster' would be more appropriate. Similarly, 'economical restraint' is slightly unnatural; 'economic strain' or 'economic hardship' would be more precise. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, incorporating more sophisticated, topic-specific collocations would help elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'buy it on their own convenience' should be 'at their own convenience'. There is also a punctuation error in the conclusion: 'although variety... is surely an attraction for consumers. However, consumers should...'—this is a sentence fragment because the first part is a dependent clause. Additionally, 'all types of consumers will be able to buy the food available' is slightly clunky. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are punctuated correctly will improve your accuracy.

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