Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-23

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)

In recent years, a growing number of cinsumers have begun choosing locally produced goods instead of imported products. Thre are several reasons behind this shift, and it can be viewed as both positive and negative depending on the context.

One of the main reasons for this trend is the increasing awareness of environmental issues. Many people now understand that imported goods often require long-distance transportation, which contributes to carbon emissions and environmental damage. By purchasing local products, consumers feel they are supporting a more sustainable lifestyle. Additionally, locally produced goods are often perceived as fresher, safer and of higher quality, especially in the case of food items. People trust local farmers and small businesses more because they can see where the products come from and how they are made.

Another important reason is the desire to support the local economy. When consumers buy local goods, they help small businesses grow and create employment opportunities within their communities. This sense of social responsibility encourages people to choose local products even if they are slightly more expensive than imported alternatives.

Overall, this trend can be considered largley positive. It strengthens local industries, reduces environmental impact, and promote consumer habits. However, there are some potential drawbacks. Imported goods are often cheaper due to mass production and limiting their consumption may increase the cost of living for some families. Futhermore, relying too heavily local products might reduce cultural exchange and limit consumer choice.

In conclusion, the increasing preference for locally produced goods is driven by environmental concerns, quality considerations, an economics benefits. Although it may have minor disadvantages, it is generally a positive development for both communities and the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task, examining both the reasons for buying local goods and evaluating whether this trend is positive or negative. The reasons are well-developed, discussing environmental awareness, food freshness, and community economic support. The student also provides a balanced perspective by acknowledging potential drawbacks such as increased cost of living and limited consumer choice. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are extended appropriately, meeting all requirements for the band 7 level descriptors successfully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured, starting with an introduction, moving into reasons, discussing advantages and drawbacks, and finishing with a clear conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct sub-topic. Cohesive devices are used adequately (e.g., 'Additionally', 'Another important reason', 'Overall', 'However'), although occasional minor mechanical transitions appear. Referencing is generally clear and easy to follow, supporting the overall flow of the text.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for flexibility and precision, using less common items such as 'sustainable lifestyle', 'social responsibility', and 'cultural exchange'. There are occasional spelling errors, such as 'cinsumers' and 'Thre', along with minor word form issues like 'largley' and 'economics benefits'. However, these lexical inaccuracies do not impede communication, and the vocabulary used is adequate to convey the intended meanings clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

A mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used throughout the essay, including conditional and relative clauses. There are some grammatical and punctuation errors present, such as 'limiting their consumption may increase' and 'relying too heavily local products' (missing preposition), as well as typos like 'Futhermore'. Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, and the majority of simple structures are accurate, which aligns well with the band 6 descriptor.

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