Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26
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 5.5)
Nowadays, it has been discovered that the high patronage of large stores has led to the closure of some of our traditional shops. In my opinion, this is a negative development because it saves time and the availability of different categories of products
I firmly believe that the primary reason why most individuals prefer to travel to a superstore due to the significant time it saves. Time is so essential for the busy individuals. They want to do all the shopping of all the necessary items they need at once and in one particular place rather than visiting different local shops. For instance, the working class who has only the weekend to do things for himself, who rather make all his purchase at the large shopping centers because he believes he will get all the needed items there in order to carry out other choose than travel to different local store to make purchase of multiple items.
Furthermore, buying from a large store enables people to be opened to local and international product which cannot be available in the traditional shops.
In conclusion, although we still need the nearby shops to solve our urgent needs but the co
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you state your position clearly in the introduction, the arguments are underdeveloped. For instance, the second paragraph attempts to explain the convenience of superstores, but the reasoning is repetitive and lacks depth. Furthermore, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly in the conclusion. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full, balanced discussion and reach the required length by expanding on your points with more specific examples and logical analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows some attempt at logical organization, using transition words like 'Furthermore' and 'In conclusion'. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is cut off, which disrupts the flow of the argument. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of sufficient cohesive devices between sentences makes the writing feel somewhat disjointed. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and logically connected to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use basic terms like 'high patronage' and 'traditional shops' appropriately, but there are some awkward collocations, such as 'carry out other choose' (likely meaning 'chores'). The range is limited, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'consumer habits', 'urban development', or 'economic impact', and focus on accurate word choice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'the working class who has only the weekend to do things for himself, who rather make all his purchase' contains subject-verb agreement issues and awkward phrasing. There are also errors in article usage and pluralization, such as 'make purchase of multiple items'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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