Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-14

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 6.0)

It is often argued that many small local shops have closed because customers prefer to shop at large shopping centers and malls. While large shopping centers can offer greater convenience and a wider range of products as compare to small shops, I believe that the closure of local shops is a negative development because it can harm small businesses and reduce the sense of community.

One major disadvantage is that the closure of local shops can have a serious impact on small business owners and their employees. Large shopping malls usually able to offer lower prices because they purchase products in bulk, making it difficult for small shops to compete. As a result, many local businesses may lose customers ad eventually be forced to close. For example, a small grocery store may struggle to compete with a large supermarket that offers discounts and a wider variety of products.

Another negative consequence is that local shops often play an important role in bringing communities together. People who regularly shop at neighborhood store may develop relationships with shop owners and other residents, which can create a stronger sense of community. Furthermore, the closure of small shops can make some neighbourhoods less convenient particularly for elderly people who have may not have easy access to large shopping malls. Although shopping malls provide a wider range of product, they cannot always offer the personal service and community connection provided by local businesses.

In conclusion, although large shopping malls offer convenience, competitive prices and wide range of products,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by clearly stating a position that the closure of local shops is a negative development. The ideas regarding economic impact on small businesses and the loss of community cohesion are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the grocery store comparison. However, the essay is incomplete; it ends abruptly in the middle of the concluding paragraph, which prevents a full summary of the main points. This omission impacts the overall development of the task, as the conclusion is a necessary component of a balanced argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that all sections, including the conclusion, are fully articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the introduction, body paragraphs, and the start of the conclusion is logical. Cohesive devices such as 'One major disadvantage', 'As a result', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to link ideas. However, because the essay is unfinished, the final paragraph fails to provide a cohesive summary, which disrupts the overall flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the lack of a completed conclusion limits the score for this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some topic-specific terms like 'bulk', 'competitive prices', and 'community connection' effectively. There are a few minor errors, such as 'as compare to' (should be 'compared to') and 'ad' (a typo for 'and'). While the range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, there is limited use of less common or more sophisticated lexical items that would demonstrate a higher level of precision and flexibility. Expanding your vocabulary to include more nuanced synonyms would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For instance, the use of 'Although' and 'which' clauses shows an attempt at complexity. However, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'Large shopping malls usually able to offer' (missing 'are'), 'have may not have' (redundant auxiliary), and 'wide range of product' (should be plural 'products'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for minor omissions would significantly enhance the accuracy of your writing.

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