Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-27

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 8.0)

In recent years, many small local shops have struggled to survive as consumers increasingly prefer large shopping centres and malls. Although shopping centres offer greater convenience and variety, I believe the closure of local businesses is largely a negative development because it can weaken communities and reduce consumer choice.

One major disadvantage is the economic impact on local communities. Small shops often employ local residents and purchase goods or services from other businesses in the area. When they close, employment opportunities can decline and more money may flow towards large companies rather than remaining within the local economy. In addition, local shops often provide personalised service and specialised products that are not available in large shopping centres. For example, a neighbourhood bakery may offer fresh products and develop strong relationships with regular customers.

Another concern is the effect on the character of local communities. Independent shops can make neighbourhoods more distinctive and encourage people to interact with one another. If these businesses disappear, shopping areas may become dominated by identical national chains, making communities less diverse.

Admittedly, large shopping centres provide significant benefits. They usually offer a wide range of products in one location, competitive prices, convenient parking and longer opening hours. This can save consumers both time and money, particularly for families with busy schedules.

Nevertheless, I believe the advantages of large malls do not outweigh the broader consequences of losing small businesses. Governments and local authorities could support independent retailers through reduced business taxes, affordable rents and community markets.

In conclusion, although shopping centres are convenient and often economical, the closure of small local shops is predominantly a negative development because of its economic and social consequences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The student presents a very clear position throughout the response, stating early in the introduction that the closure of local businesses is a negative development. All parts of the task are fully addressed, weighing the advantages of shopping centres against the economic and social consequences of losing small businesses. Ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the neighbourhood bakery offering fresh products and building customer relationships. The arguments regarding community character and local economic impact are extended logically. This performance easily meets the requirements for Band 8, as all parts of the prompt are covered thoroughly with well-supported ideas and a consistent, clear stance from start to finish.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The text is logically organised with a clear overall progression. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the economic impact and social character of local shops to the opposing view regarding shopping centres, followed by a concluding stance. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'One major disadvantage', 'Another concern', 'Admittedly', and 'Nevertheless'. Paragraphing is used appropriately and contributes to the overall clarity of the essay. Referencing is clear throughout, and the transition from body paragraphs to the concession and final conclusion is handled with precision. This represents a solid Band 8 performance in terms of logical flow and structural management.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to the topic. Expressions like 'economic impact', 'independent retailers', 'distinctive', and 'dominant' show a good grasp of less common lexical items. Collocations are mostly natural, such as 'strong relationships with regular customers' and 'busy schedules'. There are very few lexical errors; word choice is precise and appropriate for a formal essay. While it stops just short of the consistently sophisticated range required for Band 8, the vocabulary deployed is comfortably within the Band 7 criteria, allowing the writer to convey precise meanings smoothly and effectively without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, including concessive clauses ('Although shopping centres offer greater convenience...'), conditional structures, and relative clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout. The student successfully manages complex syntax without losing control of agreement or tense. Minor slips are virtually absent, and punctuation is handled accurately to clarify meaning. This level of syntactic flexibility, coupled with a high proportion of error-free sentences, firmly places the response in the Band 8 bracket for grammatical range and accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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