Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-30

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 7.0)

Shopping trends have been always changing, and customers have different shopping habits as per their needs. In this contemporary era, a large number of small local shops have shut down, as consumers are giving preference to large shopping centres or malls to do shopping. I believe this is a negative development because many local business relies heavily on their customers and also, it effects country's growth.

To begin with, one of the main reasons why customers chose to buy in large shopping malls or centres over small local shops is that they get a chance to compare wide variety of products and different levels of quality. For instance, there are always promotions and sales in the shopping malls which helps customers to choose from different brands, and as a result of this, they not only save their money but gets excellent quality products as well. Another reason is that there are numerous entertainment options and a food court available in the large shopping centres, where customers can relax and enjoy with their family after shopping, and therefore, they always love to buy things in large shopping centres or malls rather than small local shops,

However, I consider this is a negative trend for two main reasons. Firstly, small local shops are heavily dependent on their customers for everyday expenses of their house. Having no customers means they would not be able to afford expenses, and eventually they would have to shut down their business. Secondly, large shopping centres or malls only promote high end brands which means local business of the country would not get promoted and ultimately, it would affects country's growth. For example, if there will be no local shops, there will unemployment, as all the people working there will lose their job.

In conclusion, although there are incredible benefits of shopping in large malls or centres because of variety and entertainment, I argue it is a negative development. Shopping in large malls or centres can affect the small local business, and they would not be able to survive without the support from customers, and moreover, growth of the country will also be stopped.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the closure of local shops is a negative development. The ideas are relevant, covering both the consumer perspective (variety, entertainment) and the socio-economic impact (unemployment, local business decline). While the arguments are logical, some points could be more deeply developed; for instance, the link between the closure of local shops and the broader 'country's growth' is mentioned but remains somewhat general. Overall, the response is well-focused and maintains a consistent stance throughout, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0. Given the clear structure and relevant supporting examples, it sits comfortably at a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to signal transitions. While some referencing is slightly repetitive, the overall flow is smooth. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages of malls from the negative impacts on local businesses. The essay demonstrates a clear, coherent structure that meets the criteria for Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'contemporary era', 'promotions', 'high end brands', and 'unemployment'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'many local business relies' (should be plural 'businesses rely') and 'it effects country's growth' (should be 'affects'). While the range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated, idiomatic, or precise collocations required for a higher band. The vocabulary is functional and allows for clear communication, fitting the Band 6.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('many local business relies') and article usage ('effects country's growth' instead of 'the country's growth'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation issues, such as the comma splice at the end of the second paragraph. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the reader's understanding of the main arguments. The control of grammar is generally good, but the frequency of minor slips prevents a higher score. It aligns well with the Band 6.0 criteria.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.