Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some consumers are increasingly choosing to buy goods that are produced in their local area, rather than imported goods.

What are the reasons for this?

Is this a positive or a negative trend?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Nowadays, there is a growing trend of people purchasing locally produced goods rather than buying imported ones. This trend is largely driven by the environmental concerns and the perceived higher quality of local products. According to my opinion, this is a positive development because it supports local businesses and communities, while also helping to address environmental issues to some extent.

One of the primary reasons consumers prefer local goods over imported ones is the growing concern about environmental issues. Nowadays, pollution is increasing at a alarming rate, and to import goods from one country to another requires different modes of transportation such as trucks, trains, and airplanes, consuming considerable amount of fuel to cover long distances and hence produce emissions. In contrast, locally produced goods require much shorter transportation, thereby reducing fuel consumption and minimizing environmental pollution. Moreover, the perceived higher quality that local goods offer is another significant reason of buying these products. Quality in certain things, for instance, food, is generally higher. Unlikely the food which is imported from another country is often freeze, local shops sell fresh fruits and vegetables, which is both good quality and healthy.

I believe this is largely a positive development. Firstly, it benefits the local businesses and communities. When consumers purchase more locally produced goods, the sale of local businesses is increased, helping local owners to grow their business and contribute more effectively to the community, as more local businesses are expanded, more employment opportunities are increased, thereby supporting the local community. In addition, preferring locally produced goods helps addressing the environmental issues. Having higher demand of these goods, limiting imported ones, resulting in less use of fuel to transport, which can significantly reduce carbon emission and pollution.

In conclusion, the reason behind the growing preference of locally produced goods is environmental awareness and demand of higher quality goods. I believe this is largely a positive development. while imported goods add variety for consumers, locally produced goods bring significant advantages for local businesses and community, while also reducing pollution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing clear reasons for the trend and a well-defined position on whether it is positive. Your ideas are relevant and generally well-supported, such as the discussion on transportation emissions and the economic benefits for local communities. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are fully developed without repetition. For instance, the point about environmental impact is mentioned in both the second and third paragraphs; consolidating these into a more cohesive argument would improve the depth of your response. Overall, your position is clear and maintained throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Moreover', and 'Firstly' to guide the reader through your arguments. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing and sentence flow, such as the phrasing 'Unlikely the food which is imported'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a distinct, non-overlapping focus would enhance the overall flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'environmental awareness', 'employment opportunities', and 'carbon emission' effectively. There are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices or minor errors, such as 'at a alarming rate' (should be 'an') and 'reason of buying' (should be 'reason for buying'). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, incorporating more precise collocations and less common lexical items would help you achieve a higher score. Your spelling is generally accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many of your sentences are clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, such as 'Unlikely the food which is imported' (which is syntactically awkward) and 'Having higher demand of these goods... resulting in less use'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a need for more control over complex sentence construction. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of participial phrases. The majority of your sentences are understandable, but more error-free complex structures are needed for a higher band.

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