Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-29

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)

Nowadays, increasing number of customers prefer to shop at large shopping centers therefore small local shops have closed. There are both merits and demerits of this situation, which will be elaborated in the essay citing relevant examples.

Discussing the advantages of customer choose to shop at large shopping mall, the most significant one is that, shopping centers offer wide range of products in one location. This is means, customers can buy clothes, electronics, footwears, makeup products and many more things at single destination. For example, as per the survey of Ahmedabad majority of people choose to shop at variety of malls rather than local shops. Furthermore, malls provides wide variety of national and international brands and variety of products. This is to say, that plethora of branded shops available at shopping malls and large shopping centers.

In contrary, there are many drawbacks too. To illustrate, that small shops or businesses often provide employment for local residents and middle class people. In other words, that the increasing number people buying goods from the large malls so, that local people may lose their jobs and it will lead unemployment in that region. Moreover, local shops can have to face several economic consequences. Therefore, it will directly impact on local economy even people loss their businesses. For instance, as per the report of "TIMES OF INDIA" due to the international brands established their business in India it is negative impact on Indian local businesses and shops.

To conclude, there are few demerits such as increasing employments and economic consequences but there are many merits such as people find wide variety of products at one destination and it give a opportunity to buy a branded things too.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the positive and negative developments of local shops closing due to the rise of shopping malls. The writer presents a clear position throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported, such as mentioning the convenience of a wide range of products in one location and the economic consequences for local employment. However, there is a tendency to over-generalize in certain arguments, and some supporting points lack depth, placing the response solidly in Band 7. The main ideas are relevant and supported with examples like the survey of Ahmedabad and a reference to the Times of India report, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 7 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are presented coherently with an introduction, body paragraphs addressing advantages and disadvantages respectively, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In contrary', and 'To conclude' are used, though there is some mechanical use and occasional awkward referencing, such as 'In contrary' instead of 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate the distinct points of the essay. Overall, the structural flow is clear and meets the criteria for Band 6.5, which rounds to Band 6 due to mechanical cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'plethora', 'consequences', and 'international brands'. However, there are noticeable word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'increasing employments' instead of 'increasing unemployment', and 'give a opportunity to buy a branded things'. Spelling and word formation errors, like 'footwears' instead of 'footwear', occur. These inaccuracies do not seriously impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score to Band 6, as the vocabulary lacks the precision and flexibility required for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like 'Discussing the advantages of customer choose to shop...'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as article omissions ('increasing number of customers' instead of 'an increasing number'), incorrect verb forms ('customer choose' instead of 'customers choosing'), and awkward relative clauses. Punctuation errors also appear throughout the text. While these errors do not completely obscure meaning and communication is generally maintained, they prevent the writer from achieving a higher band, making Band 5.5 a fair and accurate assessment.

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