Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16

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)

Nowadays, supermarkets in many countries offer a wide range of food products from different parts of the world. Although this development has some disadvantages, I believe it is largely positive because it gives consumers greater choice and allows them to experience different cultures through food.

One major advantage is that people can enjoy a much wider variety of food than in the past. Supermarkets can import products that are not available locally, meaning that consumers can buy fruits, vegetables, spices and other ingredients regardless of where they are produced. For example, people living in countries with cold climates can purchase tropical fruits such as mangoes and pineapples throughout the year. This can also make it easier for immigrants to maintain their traditional diets and prepare familiar dishes in their new countries.

Another benefit is that international food trade can provide economic opportunities for farmers and food producers. By selling their products abroad, producers can reach a much larger market and potentially increase their income. In addition, consumers may benefit from competition between domestic and international producers, which can encourage companies to improve the quality and variety of their products.

In conclusion, although selling food from around the world can have environmental and economic disadvantages, I believe it is generally a positive development. The greater choice for consumers, cultural benefits and economic opportunities provided by international food trade outweigh its potential drawbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt, taking a clear and well-developed position that global supermarket food availability is a positive development. Ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as 'tropical fruits such as mangoes and pineapples' and references to immigrant diets and economic opportunities for producers. However, there is a penalty to consider here: the response contains 231 words, falling short of the 250-word minimum requirement. Because the task is under-length, the development is slightly restricted and cannot reach the higher bands. Thus, a band score of 6.0 is awarded.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear overall progression and logical organisation. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to two well-reasoned body paragraphs and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, with phrases like 'One major advantage', 'Another benefit', and 'In conclusion' guiding the reader effectively through the text. Referencing is clear throughout. Although paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, the overall cohesion and development remain fairly standard, fitting comfortably into Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally precise range of vocabulary suitable for the task, using terms such as 'import products', 'traditional diets', and 'economic opportunities'. There are successful attempts at less common phrasing like 'regardless of where they are produced' and 'potential drawbacks'. Word choice and spelling are accurate, and communication is never impeded. While it lacks the more sophisticated, flexible control of uncommon lexical items required for Band 8, the vocabulary used is more than sufficient for a Band 7 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student commands a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. There is a strong variety of subordinate clauses and conditional elements, such as 'Although this development has some disadvantages, I believe it is largely positive because...' and 'meaning that consumers can buy...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is well controlled. Grammatical structures demonstrate good flexibility and control, with only minor limitations keeping the score at a solid Band 7.

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

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