Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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)

In recent years, buyers lean towards purchasing products made locally rather than foreign commodities. This trend can be attributed to several factors. However, I believe it mostly has a positive outcome towards the local society.

First and foremost, it is believed that the products bought from locals can help support them and grow the community. When you purchase things from natives, the big portion of the economy stays in the community which eventually helps the neighborhood grow in long term. Along with that, people spend more money on shipped goods because of the tariffs that they have to pay before receiving the products. For instance, a case study from Oxford university shows that 1/3 people are saving their money when they buy fruits and vegetables from the local farmers.

As far as I am concerned, it is a positive trend overall. This is a crucial factor in growing awareness for environmental issues. Imported products often have to travel thousands of kilometers before reaching consumers. I would also highlight the fact that it creates employment and helps local business market. On the contrary, so many goods are out there in the market that can not be produced or made locally due to climate, geography or lack of resources. It is a good idea to not completely avoid imported goods. However, it is important to find an alternative of the product. To illustrate, a recent news in Toronto star mentioned that most people are trying to avoid Starbucks which is a USA based company and they are rather going to a Canadian company, Tim Hortons.

To conclude, it is always a better idea to support locals, encourage employment and boost the economy of the town rather than spending excessive amount of money on foreign products. That being said, people can not completely avoid international goods but can always replace them with something that can be produced locally which can be seen as a very positive change within the community.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by identifying reasons for the trend and clearly stating your position that it is a positive development. Your ideas are relevant, such as the economic benefits and environmental impact. However, some points could be more fully developed. For instance, the mention of 'tariffs' on imported goods is a good point, but the example regarding the 'Oxford university case study' is vague and lacks specific detail. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more concrete and directly linked to the arguments presented. Overall, your position is consistent 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 cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Along with that', and 'To conclude' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the shift in the third paragraph from the benefits of local produce to the limitations of local production is a bit abrupt. Improving the use of referencing and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus will help improve the overall cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'commodities', 'environmental issues', and 'excessive amount'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'big portion' (should be 'large portion') and 'local business market' (should be 'local business sector'). You attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is good, but some collocations are slightly unnatural. To improve, focus on learning more precise collocations and idiomatic expressions to convey your ideas with greater sophistication and naturalness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'a recent news in Toronto star' (should be 'a recent news report in the Toronto Star') and 'people can not completely avoid' (should be 'people cannot'). There are also some issues with article usage and pluralization. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.

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