Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-31

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 has been an increase in consumption of locally produced goods amongst some customers, compared to goods that are imported. The reason for this is that, fundamentally, a buyer's mentality relies on trust.

Usually, a consumer looks at certain key factors before going ahead and making a purchase. A few of them may be affordability, quality, quantity for the price, etc. But the most important of them all is the relationship they have with the product itself. People are more likely to buy something that is trusted by the ones around them and whose source they are aware of. Hence, a consumer is more likely to choose products produced in their local area, since they know the source of the product, can pay a reasonable price for it, and can gauge its quality. Now, when you compare that to imported goods, a consumer would first have to pay a fee on top of the original price, as the product is imported. And, since the buyer may be unaware of the exact origin of the item, they may not feel safe trusting it.

This is a negative trend since it affects the economy of a country. When a country imports goods, they pay a fee to the sender; hence, that fee is calculated and appropriately applied to the product. But when customers start to choose goods produced in their local areas, the government fails to make its money back on the goods imported and incurs a net loss.

In conclusion, a customer is more inclined to buy a local product than an imported one due to the lower cost, assurance of quality, and trust in the seller.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for buying local and the evaluation of the trend. However, the development is somewhat limited. The argument regarding the economic impact is underdeveloped and arguably inaccurate, as it assumes that government revenue is solely dependent on import duties, ignoring the broader economic benefits of local production. While the position is clear, the supporting ideas lack depth and specific examples. To reach a higher band, you should provide more nuanced reasoning and explore the counter-arguments or broader implications of the trend more thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the reasons from the evaluation. Cohesive devices such as 'hence', 'now', and 'but' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, though the link between the 'trust' argument and the 'economic' argument could be smoother. Overall, the structure supports the reader's understanding effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. Phrases like 'buyer's mentality', 'gauge its quality', and 'incurs a net loss' show an attempt to use more sophisticated language. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, and there is a lack of less common lexical items that would demonstrate a higher level of precision. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations related to economics and consumer behavior, such as 'supply chain transparency' or 'economic stimulus'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, the use of conditional structures and relative clauses is generally correct. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of advanced grammatical forms, such as passive voice constructions or more varied subordinate clauses, while maintaining the current level of accuracy.

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

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