Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In recent years, people are more inclined towards buying local products rather than imported ones. This situation can be attributed to several factors, such as to support local market. This essay will explain the reasons why consumers are buying local products, and how I believe this is a positive trend.

There are several reasons why people choose local goods rather than imported ones. The primary reason is their cost, as they are always cheaper than those made in any other country. Furthermore, you can claim any fault in local products. For example, I bought a bag from a nearby store a few days ago, and found a hole in it. I went back to shop and claimed it. Not only they gave me a brand new bag but also repaired the faulty one for me. However, if any such event happens with an internationally made item, no one will do that for me. Hence, consumers are increasingly choosing goods that are produced in their area because they are more cost effective and more reliable as well.

As far trend of purchasing local products is concerned, I believe it is a positive trend. Because by doing so we support small businesses, especially in our own areas, which in result improves economy. It provides more employment opportunities for individuals who work in small factories or stores. Moreover, purchasing local items is beneficial for both consumers and suppliers, it benefits consumers as they are cheap to buy, and good for suppliers, as it makes them financially stronger.

However, some people argue that this is a negative trend, as it confines our thoughts to that limited area. We should use imported products, as they are branded and of better quality. Although, both views have their merits, I personally support local market.

In conclusion, consumers are increasingly choosing goods that are produced in their area because they are more reliable and easy on budget. This trend is increasing nowadays and has a positive effect on the economy and provides employment opportunities for many individuals out there.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for buying local and the writer's opinion on the trend. The ideas are relevant, such as cost-effectiveness and economic benefits. However, the development is somewhat limited. The argument regarding 'reliability' is supported by a personal anecdote, which is acceptable, but the discussion on the negative side of the trend is brief and lacks depth. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why' behind the economic benefits or explore the counter-argument more thoroughly to provide a more balanced and nuanced perspective.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

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 'Furthermore', 'Hence', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow could be smoother. For example, the transition between the personal anecdote and the general conclusion in the second paragraph is slightly abrupt. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the essay is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'inclined', 'attributed', and 'financially stronger'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'easy on budget' (should be 'budget-friendly' or 'affordable') and 'claim any fault' (should be 'report a defect'). There is also some repetition of basic vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items to express your ideas with greater sophistication and variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'to support local market' (should be 'to support the local market'), 'I went back to shop' (missing article), and 'As far trend' (missing preposition). There are also issues with punctuation and sentence fragments, such as 'Because by doing so we support small businesses...' which is a dependent clause used as a full sentence. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will help improve your score in this criterion.

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

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