Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-01

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 7.0)

In recent times, an increasing number of small Local shops have Collapsed of business as consumers prefer visiting large malls and shopping complexes. In my opinion, this is a Mainly negative development because it damages local communities and economies, even though it offers obvious convenience to shoppers.

On the one hand, the shift toward large shopping centers brings several benefits to consumers. Malls offer a wide array of products under one roof, ranging clothing to electronics. This saves time and effort for busy individuals who can complete all their daily routines in a single trip. Furthermore, these centers often provide entertainment facilities like cinemas and food courts, turning shopping into a entertainment activity.

However, the closure of independent local shops has severe drawbacks. Firstly, it destroys the economic Income of small-scale business owners who cannot compete with the massive discounts and marketing budgets of retail . This leads to job losses and reduced cash flow within the neighborhood. Secondly, local shops play a vital role in building community . Neighborhood shopkeepers often know their customers personally and offer a sense of social connection, which is completely lost in the Detached environment of a mega-mall. When these stores disappear, elderly residents or those without transport suffer the most, as they lose easy access to daily essentials.

In conclusion, while large shopping complexes provide a highly efficient and varied shopping experience, the decline of local businesses represents a negative trend. It harms the social fabric of neighborhoods and Merges Capital into large corporations, leaving communities less vibrant and Independent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position throughout that the phenomenon is a mainly negative development. The writer introduces a balanced perspective in the second paragraph by acknowledging the benefits of large shopping centres, such as variety and convenience, before moving to well-supported arguments concerning community damage and economic loss in the third paragraph. Ideas are generally well-extended, though some points, like the impact on elderly residents, could have been pushed slightly further with an extra specific example to reach the absolute highest tier. Nevertheless, the main arguments are thoroughly explored and directly support the central thesis, fulfilling the requirements for this level nicely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

There is a clear logical organization and progression throughout the essay. The writer makes effective use of paragraphing, with each paragraph serving a distinct function: introduction, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed with reasonable flexibility, utilizing markers such as 'On the one hand,' 'However,' and 'Secondly' to guide the reader smoothly from one idea to the next. Referencing is generally clear, though a few transitions feel slightly mechanical. To progress further, the writer could incorporate more subtle, implicit referencing and seamless cohesion between sentences rather than relying predominantly on standard sequential connectors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'independent local shops,' 'economic income,' and 'social fabric.' However, there are noticeable limitations in lexical precision and word choice, along with some capitalization and spelling slips such as 'Local' and 'entertainment activity' repetition. Furthermore, incomplete phrasing like 'retail' without an object and awkward collocations like 'Merges Capital' indicate that vocabulary control is still developing. These errors do not impede communication, but they restrict the score because precision and style are occasionally compromised by inappropriate word choices or word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and conditional structures appropriately across the text. There are frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating good control over basic grammatical structures. However, a number of recurring errors in grammar and punctuation persist, such as capitalization issues ('Local shops have Collapsed of business'), missing articles or prepositions, and slightly fragmented expressions. These errors rarely impede communication, placing the response securely in a solid performing band. To achieve a higher score, the writer would need to demonstrate a wider variety of complex structures with consistently fewer errors in punctuation and agreement.

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