Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-29

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)

There is an ongoing debate regarding people who prefer to purchase products that are locally produced in their area rather than buying imported goods. This is a positive trend as it supports local economy and create employment opportunities.

In many countries, people prefer to buy goods that are locally manufactured, this leads to increase in demand of the items and their production. Locally made items are usually cheap and accessible which attracts the consumer ultimately benefitting both the seller and the producer. For example, items produced in the local market face less taxation and are thus cheap as compared to the imported items which are expensive due to taxes and duties at custom. Another reason to support this trend is increase in employment opportunities. When people purchase their own production, industries flourish and expand based on the demand which positively influences the job market.

Moreover, many local products like food items, clothing and furniture are a reflection of country's hertitage and cultural significance. Homemade crafts and traditional arts are recognized worldwide if they are locally popular.

On the other hand, many people trust imported brands due to their global popularity and consumption. Status conscious people mostly prefer international commodities to seek validation of society. Although, imported items provide wider range of choices and improved quality, local items are more cheap, convenient, offer freshness and quality of food.

In conclusion, while both arguements hold merit, I believe the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages. As this leads to community support and promotes local wealth and culture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the trend and the evaluation of whether it is positive or negative. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the reasons for the trend (economic benefits and cultural heritage) are relevant, the discussion on the 'negative' side is a bit brief and could have been expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis. The essay meets the requirements of the task, but the arguments could be more thoroughly extended to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow could be smoother. For example, the transition between the discussion of cultural heritage and the counter-argument about imported brands is somewhat abrupt. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at using less common vocabulary, such as 'heritage' and 'cultural significance'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'more cheap' (should be 'cheaper') and 'custom' (should be 'customs'). The range is sufficient to communicate the message, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('create employment' should be 'creates employment') and missing articles ('increase in demand' should be 'an increase in demand'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally correct, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate greater control over complex forms.

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

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