Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Nowadays, the idea of “buying local” has become a popular slogan across the globe. As people gain a basic understanding of economics, they increasingly promote purchasing locally manufactured products rather than relying on imported goods. In this essay, I will discuss two major reasons that have contributed to the growing popularity of this trend worldwide.

The first and most significant reason is the rise in economic awareness. Generation Z and millennials, who are well‑educated and financially literate, understand the long‑term benefits of supporting domestic industries. By choosing locally manufactured products, consumers directly contribute to the nation’s GDP. This strengthens the cash flow within the country, increases people’s purchasing power, boosts market demand, and ultimately creates more employment opportunities. In other words, buying local stimulates a positive economic cycle that benefits society as a whole.

Moreover, the social evolution of nations has also played a crucial role in this trend. As people witness the disadvantages of depending heavily on imported goods and services, they begin developing local alternatives to avoid vulnerable situations. Additionally, communities feel a sense of pride when promoting their own products. This collective pride not only strengthens social bonds but also encourages self‑reliance, which is essential for long‑term national stability.

A strong example of this can be seen in Japan’s economic recovery after the devastating Second World War. Japan’s leadership implemented two major reforms. First, they educated not only children but also adults about economics and finance. Second, they promoted local businesses by encouraging partnership‑based firms, which helped create a unified and socially responsible business environment. As a result of these policies, Japan observed a gradual shift in consumer demand toward locally produced goods. Although Japan initially stopped importing products entirely—causing short‑term economic challenges—the nation eventually succeeded in developing high‑quality domestic products that became globally competitive.

To summarize, buying local is not only economically beneficial but also socially empowering. As awareness increases and societies evolve, this trend is likely to grow even stronger across the world.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, identifying reasons for the trend and clearly stating your position that it is a positive development. Your ideas are well-developed, particularly the economic arguments regarding GDP and purchasing power. The example of Japan is relevant and supports your points effectively, although it is quite detailed for a task of this length. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'positive or negative' aspect is explicitly linked to your conclusion to maintain a consistent stance throughout the essay. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Your essay demonstrates a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you use cohesive devices such as 'The first and most significant reason', 'Moreover', and 'As a result of these policies' to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical and helps to separate the distinct reasons provided. Referencing is generally clear, and the flow between sentences is smooth. To improve further, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a somewhat mechanical feel in the transition between paragraphs, but the current structure is highly effective and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'financially literate', 'domestic industries', 'vulnerable situations', and 'socially empowering'. Your word choice is generally precise and appropriate for an academic context. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To reach the highest band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that sound more natural. However, your current lexical range is sufficient to convey complex ideas with precision and clarity throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional-like clauses ('By choosing locally manufactured products, consumers directly contribute...') and subordinate clauses ('As people witness the disadvantages...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There are no major grammatical slips that distract the reader. Your writing is accurate and demonstrates a high level of proficiency. To achieve a 9.0, you would need to demonstrate even greater flexibility and perhaps more sophisticated syntactic variety, but your current performance is very strong.

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