Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17

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 7.0)

In recent years, there has been a growing preference for locally produced goods over imported products in many countries. This essay will discuss the main reasons behind this trend and argue that its benefits outweigh its drawbacks.

Several factors contribute to this trend, such as the freshness of vegetables and fruits, cheaper prices, and the promotion of local and small businesses. Locally produced vegetables and fruits are free from trade and transportation taxes, which reduces the price of goods. Additionally, vegetables and fruits are fresher in a local farmers' market than imported ones. For instance, peaches produced in Ontario are fresher and available at reasonable prices than Mexican peaches. Another noteworthy reason is the promotion of local and small businesses. For these reasons, people prefer to buy locally produced goods rather than imported goods.

Regarding the second question, I firmly believe that the positive outcomes of this trend outweigh the negative outcomes. However, for some goods, people entirely depend on imported products because of their low availability in local production. Local production enhances economic growth in areas such as rural regions and counties. In these areas, there are small businesses not only related to food but also to manufacturing, technology, and electronics. This has motivated young, educated adults in these areas through employment opportunities in these businesses. Another positive impact is economic growth in rural and county areas. Therefore, in this way, young people have jobs in their local areas, and the economic growth of these areas also improves.

Taking everything into account, I believe that this trend has several significant benefits, such as the freshness of vegetables and fruits, the promotion of businesses, and economic growth. Therefore, its positive outcomes outweigh the negative outcomes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for the trend and whether it is positive or negative. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the reasons (freshness, price, local business support) are relevant, the explanation of the 'positive/negative' aspect is repetitive, particularly regarding economic growth in rural areas. The argument could be strengthened by providing more nuanced examples or addressing the 'negative' side of the trend more thoroughly, as the prompt asks for an evaluation of the trend rather than just a list of benefits. Overall, the response is well-focused but lacks depth in the second half.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main questions. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'For instance', and 'Taking everything into account' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the progression of ideas within the second body paragraph is a bit circular, as the point about economic growth is repeated twice. Improving the flow between sentences would help achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. You use some topic-specific terms like 'locally produced goods', 'imported products', and 'economic growth'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a tendency to repeat words like 'vegetables', 'fruits', and 'goods' frequently. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied synonyms or collocations, such as 'agricultural produce', 'domestic commodities', or 'local enterprises'. The word choice is accurate, and there are no spelling errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically correct. There are some minor issues with phrasing, such as 'available at reasonable prices than Mexican peaches', which should be 'more reasonably priced than...'. While you show control over basic grammar, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. The punctuation is generally accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede the reader's understanding. To improve, try to vary your sentence beginnings and use more sophisticated subordinating conjunctions.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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