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)

“Variety is the spice of life.” In the modern era, globalisation has transformed the way people purchase and consume food. Consumers can now find products from different countries in their local supermarkets, which was difficult in the past. I believe this is largely a positive development, although it can create some disadvantages for local producers and the environment.

The main advantage of international food availability is that it gives consumers greater choice and convenience. People can enjoy food from different cultures without travelling abroad, which can also increase their understanding of other traditions. For example, Indian supermarkets increasingly sell Italian pasta, Japanese sauces and Mexican ingredients, allowing customers to experiment with international cuisines at home. Furthermore, imported food can provide access to products that cannot be produced locally because of climate or geographical limitations. For instance, tropical fruits such as avocados and certain berries can be available in countries where the local climate is unsuitable for growing them.

However, this trend can have negative consequences for local farmers and the environment. Imported products may be cheaper because they are produced on a larger scale, making it difficult for small local farmers to compete. In addition, transporting food over long distances requires considerable amounts of fuel and can increase carbon emissions. For example, if fruits are transported thousands of kilometres by air or refrigerated trucks, their overall environmental impact may be considerably higher than that of locally grown alternatives. Nevertheless, these problems can be reduced through sustainable transportation and by encouraging consumers to purchase local products when they are available.

In conclusion, I consider the global availability of food to be a positive development because it provides greater choice, convenience and cultural exposure. Although it may put pressure on local producers and increase environmental costs, these disadvantages can be addressed through responsible consumption and appropriate government policies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of supermarket food being sourced worldwide, and maintains a clear overall position that it is a positive development. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as Indian supermarkets selling international ingredients and the specific climate limitations that make imported tropical fruits necessary. The arguments are extended logically throughout the essay, demonstrating a strong understanding of the prompt requirements without any omissions or irrelevant digressions. The position is consistently maintained from the introduction through the body paragraphs and into the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay is logically structured with a clear progression of ideas from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an effective introductory quote and clear stance, moving into advantages, then counter-balancing disadvantages, and finally concluding. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For instance', 'However', and 'In addition' are managed well to connect sentences and paragraphs smoothly. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall layout facilitates easy reading and clear logical flow throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary range suited to the academic topic. Less common items such as 'globalisation', 'geographical limitations', 'sustainable transportation', and 'carbon emissions' are used effectively. Word choice and collocation are generally accurate throughout the essay. While there are no major lexical errors, the vocabulary occasionally relies on standard academic phrasing rather than highly sophisticated or nuanced idiomatic expressions, which keeps the score at a strong Band 7 rather than Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex structures, including conditional-like clauses, relative clauses, and participial phrases (e.g., 'allowing customers to experiment...', 'making it difficult for small local farmers to compete'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is strong throughout. Punctuation is accurate, and punctuation errors are virtually non-existent. The mix of simple and complex structures is handled naturally without impeding communication, matching the criteria for a high band.

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