Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-28

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In recent years, many small local shops have closed because customers travel to large shopping centres or malls to do their shopping.

Is this a positive or a negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 8.5)

The rise of large shopping centers and malls has led to the decline of small local shops in many communities. While shopping malls offer benefits like convenience, variety, and competitive prices, this trend has significant downsides for local communities, making it a largely negative development.

Firstly, the closure of small shops can harm the local economy. Small businesses are often family-owned and contribute significantly to local employment. When they close, residents lose jobs, and money spent in large malls is often directed to corporate headquarters far from the community. This results in less economic activity and investment in the local area, which can weaken the community as a whole.

Additionally, small local shops often provide a unique shopping experience and personalized customer service that large malls cannot replicate. Local shops build strong relationships with their customers, providing tailored recommendations and fostering a sense of community. When these stores close, shopping becomes impersonal, and communities may lose the sense of belonging that smaller establishments provide.

Moreover, the environmental impact of traveling to large malls is another concern. Shopping malls are often located on the outskirts of towns, requiring people to drive longer distances. This leads to higher carbon emissions and contributes to urban sprawl, negatively impacting the environment and making communities more car dependent.

In conclusion, while large shopping centers offer convenience, their impact on small local shops and communities is largely detrimental. Preserving local businesses not only supports the economy and environment but also maintains the unique character and social fabric of communities. Therefore, this trend should be considered a negative development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. Each paragraph introduces a distinct, relevant argument—economic impact, social value, and environmental concerns—which are well-developed with logical explanations. The ideas are extended sufficiently to provide a comprehensive answer to the prompt. There are no omissions, and the response is well-focused on the negative aspects of the trend as requested.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion'. The use of referencing is accurate, and the internal structure of the paragraphs is coherent. The paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different arguments, making the essay easy to follow and professional in its presentation.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'detrimental', 'social fabric', 'urban sprawl', and 'replicate' show a level of sophistication beyond basic vocabulary. The word choice is precise and contributes to the clarity of your arguments. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and fits the formal tone required for an IELTS essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and conditional-like constructions. The punctuation is accurate, and the sentence construction is varied, which keeps the reader engaged. There are virtually no grammatical errors throughout the text, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is excellent. The writing is fluent and error-free, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

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