Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-08

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 5.5)

Nowadays, people like to buy things that are made in their locality, other than the international products. In my opinion, it is a positive trend. Because it have many advantages like lower price, tax free, and trust.

To begin with, the consumers have huge trust issues with the quality of the imported goods. For instance, according to the data's revealed by World Health Organization, the cooking oil from Japan and China contains more amount of chemicals used for preservation. This attracts many consumers to buy from their local area, which they feel more safe to use. Moreover, price difference is an important factor. The international goods have additional taxes and transportation fees which cause a major variation in the price range between local and branded things. These expensive items are not affordable for the middle class customers.

In addition, the consumer perspective of purchase has changed dramatically. They have realized the beneficials of supporting the local business. However, by choosing to buy goods that are produced in their area, helped the small scale industries of the locality and also increased the job opportunities simultaneously. For example, in 2018 America faced a real issue of job scarcity. They recover from the crisis with the support of local people. They decided to abandon the use of imported goods and started to promote local brands. This aided to regain the lost prosperity and wealth of the community by creating job's and business in the country.

In conclusion, it is a positive trend because the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for the trend and the writer's opinion on whether it is positive. However, the conclusion is incomplete, which leaves the final summary of the position unfinished. While the ideas regarding trust, price, and job creation are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped. The example regarding the WHO and Japanese/Chinese cooking oil is specific but lacks clear logical connection to the broader argument about local goods. To reach a higher band, ensure that all sections, including the conclusion, are fully developed and that the arguments are consistently linked to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' to signal the progression of ideas. Paragraphing is present, though the final paragraph is cut off, which disrupts the overall structure. The logical flow is generally easy to follow, but the connection between sentences is sometimes mechanical. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the transition between the WHO example and the general point about local safety could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring a complete concluding paragraph would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'data's revealed' (should be 'data revealed'), 'beneficials' (should be 'benefits'), and 'job's' (incorrect pluralization). The range is somewhat limited, relying on common terms like 'things' and 'goods'. To improve, you should focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring correct word forms. For example, instead of 'things', use 'commodities' or 'products', and ensure that plural nouns do not contain unnecessary apostrophes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'it have many advantages' (subject-verb agreement error), 'which they feel more safe to use' (should be 'feel safer'), and 'by choosing to buy goods... helped the small scale industries' (incorrect verb tense/structure). Punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary apostrophes in 'data's' and 'job's', are also present. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage is essential.

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