Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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 5.0)

Dear Mr Smith,

I am writing to inform you that there have been some changes in plans and I would like to extend my stay in your apartment.

As previously agreed on a six-month tenancy agreement, and I was supposed to vacate it by the end of this month. However, I have to extend it now by another six months, from September 2026 to February 2027.

This is because my internship has been extended by another six months. Therefore, I will be staying in the same city for a longer period of time and don't want to move to a new place as I like this apartment.

Moreover, I want to bring it to your notice that the sink faucet in the kitchen has started leaking again. If you could send a plumber soon to have it checked, it would prevent further leaking issues.

I hope my extended stay doesn't cause you any inconvenience, and I look forward to your email with the confirmation of the tenancy extension.

Yours sincerely,

Rashpal Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for an essay regarding the reasons for and the nature of the trend of buying local goods. Instead, you have written a formal letter to a landlord regarding a tenancy extension and a maintenance issue. Because you have failed to address the task instructions entirely, the score is significantly impacted. Furthermore, the response is only 172 words, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. To improve, ensure you carefully read the prompt and identify the specific task type (essay vs. letter) before beginning your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing and appropriate salutations. Ideas are sequenced well within the context of a letter, using cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Therefore' to link thoughts. However, because the content is entirely irrelevant to the task prompt, the coherence of the essay as a whole is non-existent. While the internal structure of the letter is sound, it does not fulfill the requirements of the task provided.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is appropriate for a formal letter, such as 'tenancy agreement', 'vacate', and 'inconvenience'. The range is sufficient for the purpose of the letter written, but it does not demonstrate the range of vocabulary required to discuss the complex socio-economic topic of local versus imported goods. The language is accurate and natural for the context of the letter, but it lacks the depth needed for the actual task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The grammar is generally accurate with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'If you could send a plumber soon to have it checked, it would prevent further leaking issues.' There are very few errors, and the meaning is always clear. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. While the grammatical control is good, the lack of relevance to the prompt means the range of structures is not tested against the requirements of an argumentative essay.

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

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