Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-08

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 5.5)

A number of customers now prefer their local products rather than those coming from other countries. In my opinion, this is a positive trend because it boosts local economy of the country.

These days, an increase in number of people has been seen who are using local products. In the past people were more conscious about their purchase and they prefererred imported products. They might think that buying imported items shows their wealth. However, in recent years, a change in trend has been observed, now many consumers buy locally made products. One factor might be that goverments taking steps to promote local products. The other reason might be price and quality differences. Although some important products are of good quality but these are costly due to custom duty and taxes. Furthermore, shippment charges also applied which ultimately increases the cost. Therefore, people tend to buy local products which are cost effective. For example, in my country, a few years back people used to buy imported clothes but then a local brand introduced and people liked their quality and prices.

This is indeed a positive trend because it boosts the economy and further it creates employment opportunities for local community. The more the demand, the more will be the production. It will support local industry and money will circulate in local region.

In my opinion, if individuals are choosing products that are locally produced, it's a positive trend. It enhances local production and hence improves local businesses. Furthermore, employment options increases for the community. However, governments might develop strategies to attract more customers by giving subcidies to local business owners.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the question: it gives reasons for choosing local goods, including price, taxes and shipping costs, and clearly states that the trend is positive. The example of consumers choosing a local clothing brand also helps make the explanation relevant. However, some ideas are asserted rather than fully explained. For instance, government promotion is mentioned as a possible reason but not illustrated, while the claim that local purchasing boosts the economy and employment is repeated without showing how these benefits arise beyond increased demand. The discussion of imported goods being associated with wealth is relevant, but its connection to the recent change in consumer behaviour could be clearer. Develop each main reason with a specific explanation or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an identifiable introduction, a paragraph explaining reasons, and a paragraph supporting the positive view, so the reader can follow its general direction. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the final paragraph restates that local purchasing improves production, businesses and employment, points already made immediately before it. The reasons paragraph also moves from government action to price and quality, then to a clothing example without clearly signalling how the example supports the price-and-quality point. Linking expressions such as “Furthermore” and “Therefore” are used, but the overall connections can feel mechanical. Give each paragraph a distinct purpose, avoid repeating the same benefits, and use clearer references to connect examples to the claims they support.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for discussing consumer choices and economic effects, with relevant terms such as “imported products,” “custom duty,” “employment opportunities” and “local industry.” There are also attempts to use more formal phrasing, including “a change in trend has been observed.” However, several word-choice and collocation problems reduce precision, such as “boosts local economy of the country,” “shippment charges also applied,” and “employment options increases.” Spelling errors in “goverments,” “prefererred” and “subcidies” are noticeable, although the intended meaning is generally recoverable. Aim for more natural collocations and check spelling carefully; precise phrasing will make the argument sound more fluent and controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including a conditional structure (“if individuals are choosing…”) and a relative clause (“products that are locally produced”). Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors occur in both sentence construction and agreement. For example, “One factor might be that goverments taking steps” needs a finite verb (“governments are taking steps”), and “employment options increases” has a subject–verb agreement error. The sentence beginning “Although some important products are of good quality” is not completed with a clear contrast, and “shippment charges also applied” lacks an auxiliary verb. Work on complete clause structure, agreement and consistent verb forms while retaining the range of sentence patterns already attempted.

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