Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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, people can buy food from different countries in supermarkets has become increasingly common in many parts of the world due the globalisation and international sources. Although this development offers several advantages like food choices and allows people to experience different cultures, it also has certain disadvantages. This essay examin the both sides of the issue.

There are several benefits associated with this development. The most significant advantage is that people can experience wide varitry of food products from around the world. For example, peolpe can easily buy italain pizza, turkish tea, chinnese food and korean noodls. This allow them to taste different flavours of food and experience different cultures without travelling abroad. Another positive aspect is that imported food is particullarly beneficial when certain products are not available locally. As a result, consumers have more choices and can enjoy a balanced and varied diet. Therefore, this development is beneficial for people.

Despite these benefits buying food from different countries also have some drawbacks. One major concern is that imported products can be more expe

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies relevant advantages, including access to a “wide variety” of international foods and the ability to try other cultures without travelling. It also begins to introduce a disadvantage, but the essay ends mid-sentence at “imported products can be more expe…”, so the negative side is not explained and the question asking whether this is positive or negative is not answered with a clear overall position. The examples are mostly lists of foods rather than developed support for a judgement. The response is also 75 words below the required minimum, which leaves the argument substantially incomplete. To improve, state clearly whether you consider the development positive or negative, develop both the reasoning and examples, and complete the discussion of drawbacks and conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on benefits, and the start of a paragraph on drawbacks. Sequencing is generally clear, and phrases such as “For example,” “As a result,” and “Despite these benefits” help signal relationships between ideas. However, the essay stops during the drawback paragraph, so there is no completed progression to a conclusion or final judgement. Some linking is also mechanical: “Therefore, this development is beneficial for people” repeats the preceding point rather than advancing the argument. Build a complete sequence by explaining each main point, connecting its explanation to the task question, and ending with a conclusion that reflects the position stated in the introduction.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

There is enough vocabulary to communicate the main topic, with relevant phrases such as “imported food,” “balanced and varied diet,” and “different cultures.” The writer also attempts some less common expressions, including “globalisation” and “international sources.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable and sometimes make reading less smooth: “varitry,” “peolpe,” “italain,” “chinnese,” “noodls,” and “expe…” are examples. Some phrasing is also imprecise, such as “international sources” for food from other countries. Aim for accurate spelling and more natural collocations, and use precise terms to explain the effects of imported food rather than relying mainly on lists of cuisines.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the concession in “Although this development offers several advantages…” and the example introduced by “For example.” Meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. The opening sentence lacks a clear main clause structure (“people can buy food … has become increasingly common”), and “This allow them” has a subject–verb agreement error. There are also problems with articles and agreement in “the both sides” and “buying food … have some drawbacks.” These errors do not usually prevent understanding, but they reduce accuracy. Practise forming complete clauses and checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries, while retaining the complex structures you are attempting.

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