Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-06

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 5.5)

Nowadays, in many states, people can purchase food items produced anywhere in the world by just visiting a supermarket. I think this is a positive development because food items can be available throughout the year. It also builds a strong network between countries, which helps them to grow financially.

On the one hand, consumers can buy fruits and vegetables that can hardly be grown in their country. In addition to that, they can buy food throughout the year, as they have access to imported products from neighbouring countries. For instance, many countries export excess fruit and vegetables to other countries, and in return they buy the items that are short in their country. For example, Mangoes are mostly produced in the Asian region, which are then exported to Europe.

On the other hand, this exchange of goods boosts economic growth. It helps individual countries to build a solid connection with others and brings business and job opportunities. For instance, many countries are growing their economies with the help of export and import business. Leading them to sustain natural calamities. Many counties help each other to built strong

In conclusion, buying food products at a supermarket produced in different countries not only enables economic growth but also helps to establish strong connections with other countries. This is a positive development for both countries and consumers, as consumers get access to a variety of items.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task partially, with a clear position that the trend is positive. However, it falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, containing only 233 words, which limits the development of ideas. While the introduction outlines two main reasons availability and economic growth the supporting points remain somewhat limited and under-developed. For instance, the discussion on economic growth mentions building solid connections and sustaining natural calamities, but these concepts are expressed superficially without sufficient elaboration or concrete, well-explained examples. To reach a higher band, the writer needs to extend the response past the minimum word count and explore each supporting point with deeper explanation and fully articulated examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text shows some organisation with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion, but it lacks a clear overall progression. Paragraphing is attempted, though the final body paragraph is truncated and ends abruptly with an incomplete thought ('Many counties help each other to built strong'). Cohesive devices are used, but they tend to be basic and repetitive, such as starting multiple sentences with 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'For example'. Referencing and logical transitions between sentences occasionally falter, making the progression feel mechanical rather than fluid. To improve, the writer should ensure that every paragraph is fully completed and develop a smoother, more varied toolkit of cohesive ties to guide the reader seamlessly through the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate for the task. The writer attempts some less common items such as 'natural calamities', 'financial', and 'imported products', but there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'short in their country' instead of 'in short supply' or 'scarce', and 'export and import business' instead of 'international trade'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but the overall lexical range restricts precision and flexibility. To move up to the next band, the student should incorporate a wider variety of precise vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and natural collocations, while avoiding repetitive phrasing and inaccurate word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writing displays a limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and straightforward complex forms. When the writer attempts more complex structures, frequent errors emerge, including verb form errors such as 'to built strong' instead of 'to build strong relationships', and minor issues with articles and prepositions. While meaning is generally conveyed despite these errors, the grammatical control is inconsistent. To achieve a higher level, the writer must demonstrate greater control over complex sentence patterns, ensure correct verb morphology, and eliminate recurring grammatical slips by proofreading carefully.

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