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 the local economy and creates employment opportunities.

In many countries, people prefer to buy goods that are locally manufactured, this leads to an increase in demand for the items and their production. Locally made items are usually affordable 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 more affordable as compared to imported items which are expensive due to taxes and duties at customs. Another reason to support this trend is an increase in employment opportunities. When people purchase their own domestic products, 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 the country's heritage 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 prestige. Status conscious people mostly prefer international commodities to seek validation from society. Although imported items provide a wider range of choices and improved quality, local items are cheaper, more convenient, offer freshness and quality of food.

In conclusion, while both arguments hold merit, I believe the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages. This is because it leads to community support and promotes local wealth and culture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: it identifies reasons for the trend (affordability, employment, cultural heritage) and clearly states a position that it is a positive trend. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported, such as the explanation regarding taxation and customs duties. However, the development of the 'negative' side of the argument is slightly rushed in the fourth paragraph, and the conclusion could have been more robust by briefly summarising the main points rather than just restating the position. Overall, the response is focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the reasons for the trend and the evaluation of its impact is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'In many countries', 'Another reason', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. While the flow is generally good, some of the sentences within paragraphs could be linked more tightly to improve the overall cohesion, but the structure remains clear throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses relevant terms such as 'customs', 'taxation', 'domestic products', and 'cultural significance'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrases are slightly repetitive or could be more precise. For example, 'status conscious people' is a good collocation. While the range is adequate to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and idiomatic flexibility required for a higher band score. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar, and punctuation is used correctly for the most part. However, there are some minor errors, such as the comma splice in the second paragraph: '...locally manufactured, this leads to...'. This should be two separate sentences or joined with a semicolon. Despite this, the errors are infrequent and do not impede the reader's understanding. The range of structures is sufficient to express the ideas clearly, though more variety in complex sentence forms would be beneficial.

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