Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-15

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 7.0)

The globalization of food supply chains has made it possible for supermarkets to stock produce from across the world, and I believe this is overwhelmingly beneficial for consumers and economies alike.

Firstly, individuals who are living abroad crave the food available in their respective countries. Exporting food produced in varied countries makes consumers feel emotional and the feeling of home by buying varities of food. For instance, Indian families or students living abroad for education purposes misses their traditional food. While visiting markets like Cosco, they buy the food specially made in India like spices that makes them feel more connected towards their home country.

Secondly, this trade benefits developing economies. Countries that specialize in exporting coffee, cocoa, or exotic fruits generate significant income and employment through international trade. For example, Kenyan flower and tea exports or Ecuadorian bananas support millions of livelihoods that would not exist without global demand.

Additionally, global competition often lowers prices for consumers, as supermarkets can source goods from wherever production costs are lowest, making a wider range of food affordable.

However, critics rightly point to environmental costs, particularly the carbon footprint of air-freighting perishable goods, and the risk that local farmers may struggle to compete with cheaper imports. These concerns are valid and should be addressed through better regulation and support for local agriculture.

On balance, though, the benefits of choice, economic opportunity, and affordability outweigh these drawbacks. With improvements in sustainable shipping and fair-trade practices, global food trade can continue to be a positive force.

In conclusion, while environmental and local-economy concerns deserve attention, the overall impact of a globalized food market is positive, offering consumers greater choice and supporting economic development worldwide.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by taking a clear and well-developed stance that the globalized food supply is overwhelmingly beneficial. The essay explores multiple facets of the issue, including cultural connection for expatriates, economic benefits for developing nations, consumer affordability, and environmental drawbacks. Ideas are well-extended and supported with relevant examples, such as Indian students buying spices or Kenyan tea exports. The writer successfully balances the advantages and disadvantages before reaching a definitive conclusion. The response meets all task requirements efficiently, demonstrating a strong grasp of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally from individual and economic benefits through to counter-arguments and a balanced conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively and appropriately, with each paragraph handling a distinct point or counter-point. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Additionally', and 'However' are employed accurately to guide the reader through the argumentation. Referencing is clear throughout, and overall cohesion is well managed, contributing to an easy and natural reading flow without mechanical or intrusive transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an academic discussion. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used effectively, such as 'globalization of food supply chains', 'exotic fruits', 'livelihoods', and 'carbon footprint'. Word choice is generally precise, though there are occasional minor slips, such as 'makes consumers feel emotional and the feeling of home' where phrasing is slightly awkward, and 'misses' instead of 'miss' in 'families or students... misses'. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is more than sufficient to convey precise meanings and demonstrates a strong command of topic-specific language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response features a wide variety of complex structures used with good control. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. Examples of successful complex structures include 'Countries that specialize in exporting coffee, cocoa, or exotic fruits generate significant income...' and 'While visiting markets like Cosco, they buy the food specially made in India like spices that makes them feel more connected...'. Minor grammatical inaccuracies are rare, such as subject-verb agreement in 'families or students... misses' and a minor spelling slip in 'Cosco' (Costco), but these do not impede communication. Control of grammar is strong throughout the essay.

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