Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30

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 7.5)

In today's globalized word, it has become increasingly common for shoppers to find imported food products from all over the globe on supermarket shelves. Although this trend presents certain environmental and economic challenges, I believe it is overall a positive development as it enhances consumers' quality of life and stimulates international trade.

On the one hand, the global distribution of food carries notable drawbacks. The primary concern is environmental damage caused by long-distance transportation. Shipping food via air cargo or cargo ships requires immense amounts of fuel, generating substantial carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. Additionally, the influx of imported googds can threaten local agriculture. Domestic farmers often struggle to compete with mass-produced, cheaper imports or foreign delicacies, which may compromise their livelihoods and local agricultural economies.

On the other hand, the widespread availability of international food offeres significant advantages. First and foremost, it grants consumers unprecedented choice and access to a diverse diet. People can now enjoy fresh, nutrient-rich produce regardless of the season or local climate, such as tropical fruits in cold Western countries. Furthermore, international competition in food markets drives innovation and quality control. Local producers are incentivized to adopt more efficient farming practices and raise saftey standards to stay competitive, ultimately benefiting everyday shoppers with better quality products at reasonable prices.

In conclusion, while the transportation of global food products has negative environmental consequences and puts pressure on local farmers, the benefits in terms of consumer choice, nutrition, and market competition are far greater. Therefore, I view this shift towards globalized food supply as a beneficial development for modern society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by taking a clear position that the global availability of food is a positive development. Both sides of the argument are acknowledged and explored, with the environmental and economic drawbacks discussed in the second paragraph, followed by the significant advantages regarding consumer choice, nutrition, and market competition in the third paragraph. The ideas are well extended and supported with relevant explanations, such as mentioning tropical fruits in cold Western countries and the impact on local farming economies. The position remains consistent from the introduction to the conclusion, demonstrating a strong understanding of the requirements for Academic Task 2. There are no missing components, and the development of ideas is coherent and robust, aligning closely with the descriptors for a Band 7.5 or Band 8, fitting comfortably into a Band 7.0 due to a slight tendency to generalise without extensive specific statistical evidence.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response exhibits clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a well-formulated introduction, moving through balanced body paragraphs, and concluding with a concise summary of the main points. The student makes effective use of cohesive devices to signpost the structure of the essay, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'First and foremost', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used logically and appropriately to separate opposing arguments. Although referencing and cohesive links are managed sufficiently, the transitions occasionally rely on somewhat standard formulae rather than more subtle cohesive techniques, which prevents the essay from reaching the highest band. Nevertheless, the logical flow is uninterrupted and easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for flexibility and precision throughout the essay. Words and phrases such as 'globalized world', 'unprecedented choice', 'nutrient-rich produce', and 'market competition' show a strong command of topic-specific leкса. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation. However, there are a couple of minor vocabulary and spelling errors, such as 'word' instead of 'world' in the opening sentence and 'googds' instead of 'goods' in the second paragraph, alongside 'offeres' instead of 'offers'. While these are likely typing slips rather than fundamental gaps in knowledge, they prevent the lexical score from reaching the top tier. Overall, the vocabulary is apt, varied, and successfully conveys sophisticated arguments without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response features a wide variety of complex sentence structures used accurately. The student skillfully incorporates dependent clauses, conditional or concessive structures, and participial phrases, such as 'Although this trend presents certain environmental and economic challenges, I believe...' and 'Shipping food via air cargo or cargo ships requires immense amounts of fuel, generating substantial carbon emissions...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is maintained at a high level throughout the text. Punctuation is used correctly to demarcate clauses and items in lists. The occasional minor slip, such as the aforementioned spelling or typo issues, does not detract from the overall high grammatical accuracy. The structural range and control displayed firmly support a strong band score in this category.

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