Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-21

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 6.0)

Nowadays, people are more inclined to purchase local goods instead of imported products because regional goods are often fresh and generate employment within a region. In my opinion, this is a positive trend because it helps in economic growth.

To begin with, the main reasons why people are purchasing locally produced goods is freshness and less use of chemicals and preservatives. For example, imported products may contain preservatives to make them look fresh for a longer period of time because such products spend a significant amount of time in transit. Secondly, social media has influenced people to buy local as there are many hashtags and campaigns going on social platforms to support local farmers and artist. Lastly, domestic goods are more affordable than international products because buyers does not need to pay international taxes and transportation costs.

In addition, this is a positive trend because it generates employment opportunities locally. When people buy from local farmers, demand increase as a result farmers need to hire more workers. Consequently, economy grows because when people earn they can contribute to the growth of an economy by paying taxes. Additionally, buying from local producers is beneficial for the environment as local products does not need to travel long distance this reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions associated with long commutes.

To conclude, buying from local vendors is not only beneficial for the environment, but also for the economy. It is a healthy option for individuals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for buying local and the opinion on whether it is a positive trend. However, the essay is 242 words long, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the development of ideas, which remain somewhat brief. While the position is clear and supported by relevant points such as freshness, economic impact, and environmental benefits, the lack of depth due to the word count prevents a higher score. To improve, you should expand on your examples and provide more detailed explanations for each point to ensure you comfortably exceed the minimum length.

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 'To begin with', 'Secondly', 'In addition', and 'Consequently' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother, and some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is more fluid and less reliant on simple enumerators.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'preservatives', 'transit', 'economic growth', and 'carbon emissions'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'artist' (should be 'artisans') and 'demand increase' (should be 'demand increases'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. Expanding your vocabulary to include more nuanced synonyms will help elevate the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'buyers does not need' (subject-verb agreement error), 'demand increase' (should be 'increases'), and 'local products does not need' (subject-verb agreement error). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not impede overall communication. To achieve a higher score, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed accurately. Proofreading for these common errors is essential.

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

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