Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-12

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 6.5)

In most parts of the world, people commonly purchase imported food at the supermarket. This change in trend has benefited many by providing variety and convenience, and undoubtedly its advantages outweigh the drawbacks that are associated with it.

On the one hand, a wider variety of food items is available as a result of globalisation, allowing consumers to choose from more options. This is regardless of local production and seasonal availability, which makes it convenient and is preferred by many. Moreover, imported foods are perceived as higher quality, more exotic, and prestigious, attracting urban consumers who are seeking variety. This variety is also a plus point for health-conscious people who are looking for multiple healthy alternatives.

In addition, mass production of goods is actually cheaper than small-scale alternatives, allowing these items to be sold at a lower price than local goods, making them economical options.

Nevertheless, domestic production is taking a big hit as a result of this trend. If global trade and mass purchases of imported foods continue, local production is likely to diminish, which can lead to negative economic growth. Furthermore, local farmers are facing challenges to keep up with international prices due to production costs, which is further hindering their selling power. For instance, a domestic farmer pays more for the delivery and production of food items for a small batch and has to charge accordingly and can not compete with big brands that distribute products in big batches, incurring the same transport charges. This competition discourages local people from producing food domestically; however, government subsidies to producers can resolve this problem significantly and encourage local manufacturing.

To sum up, even though there are certain drawbacks such as limited economic growth from this sector, the benefits of global food items being available in a wider variety and at lower prices attract people to buy them and have changed the public's lifestyle for the better.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of globalized food supply in supermarkets and clearly stating a position in the introduction that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the comparison between domestic and international production costs and the impact on local farmers. The reasoning flows logically throughout the essay, demonstrating a strong understanding of the prompt. The response meets all criteria for a Band 7.5 or Band 8, successfully fulfilling all core requirements with well-supported arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with the introduction of the stance, moving through the advantages and disadvantages, and concluding neatly. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments, such as 'On the one hand', 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Nevertheless'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as economic benefits versus the threat to domestic production. Although referencing is occasionally a bit repetitive, the overall cohesion is managed very well, aligning closely with a Band 7.0 standard.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Words and phrases such as 'globalisation', 'seasonal availability', 'health-conscious', 'mass production', and 'diminish' are used accurately. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, as seen in 'negative economic growth' and 'government subsidies'. While there are a few minor lexical choices that could be more polished, such as 'plus point' which is slightly informal, the vocabulary successfully conveys the intended meaning without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer uses a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, including conditional clauses ('If global trade... continue, local production is likely to diminish') and relative clauses ('urban consumers who are seeking variety'). There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and the control of grammar and punctuation is good overall. Although there is a minor grammatical slip in the third paragraph ('can not compete... and has to charge... and can not compete' creating a slightly run-on structure), these errors do not impede communication. The grammatical range comfortably sits at a Band 7 level.

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