Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-08

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)

The growing trend of buying locally sourced products has attracted considerable attention. In my opinion this is primarily a positive development because of high import costs and a desire to support local businesses. This essay will discuss the possible reasons behind this trend in the paragraphs below followed by a conclusion.

There are several reasons why residents are more inclined towards purchasing products from locally owned businesses. The main reason is rising costs related to imported goods. In other words, whenever a commodity is bought from a foreign supplier, taxes, shipping charges and tariffs are imposed on the item. It increases the price dramatically. For example, a German car imported into India costs two times more than the actual price.

Another contributing factor is that individuals are willing to support domestic vendors instead of international suppliers. This makes them more competitive in terms of quality and freshness of the product. During the Covid-19 pandemic, India imposed restrictions on buying from Chinese stores to support small shops in the time of crisis. This led to decline in the imports from China. Consequently, till this date residents of India are not willing to purchase Chinese goods, and want to source from small businesses because the quality is better, durable and reliable.

In my opinion, the reasons mentioned above lead us towards a positive outcome of economic and sustainable growth.

In conclusion, the development of local production and purchasing is largely driven by the fact that many people are now focusing on the financial as well as societal aspects of their countries, and I consider this a positive sign of progress.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed both parts of the prompt: the reasons for the trend and your opinion on whether it is positive or negative. Your position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you provide a clear reason regarding costs, the second reason—supporting local businesses—could be expanded with more depth regarding the broader economic or environmental impact. The example regarding India and China is relevant but feels slightly anecdotal. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting arguments are fully explored rather than just stated, providing a more comprehensive analysis of the 'positive' nature of the trend.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'In other words,' 'For example,' and 'Consequently' to link ideas effectively. However, the paragraphing is a bit disjointed; the paragraph stating your opinion on the outcome is very short and could have been integrated into the conclusion or the previous body paragraph to improve the flow. Additionally, some transitions between sentences feel slightly mechanical. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'commodity,' 'tariffs,' and 'domestic vendors' appropriately. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'till this date' (should be 'to this date') and 'source from small businesses' (which is slightly awkward in this context). While you successfully convey your meaning, the vocabulary is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. The range is sufficient to communicate your ideas clearly, but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'This led to decline' (missing an article: 'a decline') and 'the quality is better, durable and reliable' (which lacks parallel structure). Punctuation is generally accurate, though some sentences could be refined for better flow. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on article usage, subject-verb agreement, and ensuring parallel structure in lists will help you achieve greater accuracy in your writing.

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

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