Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-06
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 5.0)
Much of the world places premium on buying good-quality products. A time was when people use to do shopping from local stores in the city. Time spins and with every spin, there is a change. People are adopting materialistic approach and shifting their buying preferences to large shopping malls. Whether it is a positive or a negative approach will be outlined below.
On one hand, this is a positive approach in the development of a country in the long-run. The western culture f
On the other hand, people nowadays are getting influenced by advertisements and celebrities wearing certain brands which makes them shift their preferences.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under-length at only 105 words, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While the introduction attempts to set the scene and mentions that a position will be outlined, the essay is incomplete and lacks the necessary development of ideas. The arguments are not fully explored, and the essay ends abruptly before a conclusion can be reached. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full, balanced discussion with supporting examples and a clear conclusion, ensuring you meet the minimum word count to allow for sufficient depth of argument.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay shows some attempt at logical organization, using phrases like 'On one hand' and 'On the other hand' to structure the response. However, because the text is incomplete and fragmented, it is difficult to assess the overall progression of ideas. Paragraphing is present but the sudden termination of the text prevents a coherent flow. To improve, focus on completing your thoughts within each paragraph and ensuring that your ideas transition smoothly into a well-developed conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with attempts at more sophisticated phrasing such as 'places premium on' and 'materialistic approach'. However, there are some awkward collocations, such as 'A time was when people use to do shopping', which should be 'There was a time when people used to shop'. The range is limited due to the brevity of the response. To achieve a higher score, try to use more precise vocabulary and ensure your collocations are natural and accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are noticeable grammatical errors, such as 'people use to do shopping' (should be 'used to shop') and 'Time spins and with every spin, there is a change' (which is stylistically awkward). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors and the lack of a full range of structures due to the short length limit the score. Focus on mastering basic verb tenses and improving sentence variety.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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