Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01

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)

In today's fast-paced world, with the advancement of technology, it is really easy to buy things overseas; however, some people still prefer to buy things from their local area, and I see it as a positive trend with some drawbacks, which will be discussed in the upcoming paragraphs, with a reluctant conclusion.

One of the main reasons to buy from the neighbouring area is that it is always fresh, and you can check the quality as you are physically present there. Another important factor is that it will help grow your economy, as you are investing locally. In addition to this, it will create income for local vendors, and they do not have to go to other places to earn. Moreover, it can generate employment for other people as well as shops needing workers.

Furthermore, the convenience of getting things the same day is incomparable, rather than waiting for them to be delivered from other areas. However, there are some negative outcomes of this trend, as some of the items are made in special places and have their own speciality; in that case, locally bought products lose their originality.

In my opinion, choosing local products instead of international products is good for preserving your own culture, as it gives you a sense of belonging. Products that can not be produced locally are good to purchase from their original place; otherwise, it is good to buy from local shops.

To recapitulate, positive things really outweigh the negative trends; however, in some cases, a balanced approach should be used. Once in a while, it is okay to buy products online to preserve quality, but to support local shop owners, shopping from them is the best measure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the reasons for buying local and the evaluation of the trend. The ideas are relevant, such as freshness, economic growth, and cultural preservation. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For example, the point about 'originality' is mentioned but not clearly explained, and the argument could benefit from more specific examples beyond general statements. The position is clear throughout, but the conclusion is slightly contradictory by describing itself as 'reluctant' while arguing that the positives outweigh the negatives. To reach a higher band, ensure that each reason is fully supported with a clear explanation or a concrete example.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition to this', 'Moreover', and 'To recapitulate', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure follows a standard essay format, which makes the progression of ideas easy to follow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used more naturally would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to convey their ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'local vendors', 'originality', and 'preserving your own culture'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple phrasing (e.g., 'positive things', 'good to purchase'). There are no significant spelling errors, but the word choice lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, the student should focus on using more academic collocations and less common lexical items to express their ideas with greater nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are recurring grammatical issues, such as the awkward phrasing in the introduction ('with a reluctant conclusion') and minor errors in article usage and prepositional phrases. Complex structures are attempted, but they are not always perfectly controlled. Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences are slightly run-on. The majority of the text is error-free enough that communication is never impeded, but a wider variety of error-free complex structures is needed to move into the 7.0+ range.

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