Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-30

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 7.5)

In recent decades, people have shifted their purchasing habits, choosing to buy local goods such as clothes, utensils, and furniture at large shopping malls or centres, and this trend has significantly affected small shop owners. I must say that this is largely a negative trend, and this essay will exemplify the points in the following paragraphs.

One of the major reasons why people prefer large shopping malls is that they can purchase a wide variety of products under one roof. In shopping centres, customers can visit multiple stores at the same time according to their needs and interests. Moreover, shopping malls often attract large numbers of customers by offering exciting deals and discounts, which can be extremely difficult for shoppers, especially women, to ignore. As a result, individual shop owners may struggle to attract customers and could spend a significant part of their day without making sales, which can negatively affect their financial situation.

However, the closure of local shops can have several negative consequences. Firstly, small business owners may lose a significant proportion of their customers and income, making it difficult for them to continue operating. If this trend continues, many independent shops may permanently close, resulting in fewer employment opportunities for residents. Secondly, local shops often provide products and services that reflect a community's character. If they disappear, towns and neighbourhoods may become dominated by large commercial chains, reducing their individuality. For instance, a small family-owned grocery store may have served residents for decades, but it could eventually close if most customers choose to shop at a supermarket instead.

In conclusion, while large shopping malls offer convenience, variety and attractive discounts, I consider the closure of small local shops to be a negative development. It can harm local business owners, reduce employment opportunities and make communities less diverse and distinctive.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task, clearly stating that the trend is negative and providing relevant reasons. The position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the discussion on the loss of community character and employment opportunities. The essay follows a logical structure, moving from the benefits of malls to the negative impacts on local shops. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, real-world examples beyond the hypothetical 'family-owned grocery store' to further strengthen the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'As a result', 'Firstly', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the convenience of malls and the decline of local shops is well-articulated.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'purchasing habits', 'commercial chains', 'individuality', and 'employment opportunities'. There is a good attempt to use less common vocabulary, and the word choice is generally precise. While the range is adequate, it does not consistently demonstrate the 'skilful use of uncommon items' required for a band 8. However, there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with most sentences being error-free. The use of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If this trend continues...') and subordinate clauses ('while large shopping malls offer...'), is handled well. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. While the control is strong, the range of complex structures could be slightly more varied to reach the highest band, but the current level is very solid for a band 7.

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