Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-14
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, shopping centres has become increasingly common in many countries. This trend can be attributed to several factors, particularly all brand open in many malls and entertainment facilities. In my opinion I believe this the positive development because of better facilities.
There are several reasons why large shopping centres has become increasingly common. The main reason is that variety of products. This is because all brands in one big mall. For example, for shopping wedding gown we go to chandani chowk to buy jwellery we got to famous jwellery stores which locate sometime far more away from residential loaction. As a result, we not able to finish shopping in a day. Another reason is bettter faciltities which allows shopping more entertaining. For example, I come to out for shopping in summer season due to sun raise not able to do shopping we easily get tired while doing shopping from local shops but when we do shopping from malls in humid weather then airconditioning malls keep us enregetic and fresh and lots of sitting arrangemnt available when we get tired of walking. If we feel like hungry we can easily get inside same building. Therefore shopping become entertaining and better.
In my views, this is the positive developnent for several reason. The main reason is that varities in one roof. For example, People will get all the brands in a mall which make their shopping easy to decide which brand is fine. They can easily compare variety of fashion and clothing from same place. Secondly, save travel time. For instance, if we want to do shopping for some one wedding instead of travelling to different places which famous for dresses or jwelleries now we get all things in large shoping centres. Due to this which save travel time and cost and we able to complete shopping in same day.
In conclusion, shopping mall is becoming increasingly common mainly because of variety, convienece and better facilty. Although this trend has some drawbacks, I believe opening of large shopping centres bring a positive development because of infrasturcure and convienient to do any type of purchasing..
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
Your position is clear: you consider the growth of shopping centres a positive development, and you give relevant reasons, including wider choice, convenience, reduced travel between shops, and facilities such as air conditioning and seating. The examples about wedding shopping help illustrate these points. However, the response focuses almost entirely on the benefits to shoppers and does not explain the effect named in the prompt: the closure of small local shops. This leaves an important aspect of the issue underdeveloped. Some points also repeat, particularly the variety and time-saving arguments in both body paragraphs. To strengthen the response, explain what local shops lose and weigh that impact against the advantages before reaching your conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the reader can follow the general argument for shopping centres. You also use signposting such as “Another reason,” “For example” and “In conclusion.” However, progression is weakened because both body paragraphs repeat the same ideas about variety and convenience, while the first paragraph’s examples are difficult to follow. Some links are awkward or unclear, as in “Therefore shopping become entertaining and better” and “Due to this which save travel time and cost.” The conclusion introduces drawbacks without explaining them earlier. Organise each paragraph around a distinct point, use clearer sentence-to-sentence links, and ensure the conclusion reflects the discussion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “variety of products,” “brands,” “air conditioning,” “compare” and “travel time and cost.” These choices make your main meaning understandable. However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, especially “shopping,” “mall” and “variety.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as “jwellery,” “convienece,” “facilty” and “infrasturcure,” as well as unnatural expressions like “varities in one roof” and “sun raise.” These errors sometimes make the reader pause. Build a more accurate range of collocations—for example, “a wide selection under one roof”—and proofread spelling and word forms carefully.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and longer sentences, using clauses with “because,” “which” and “when,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, sentence construction, articles and verb forms often make the reader work to understand the point. Examples include “shopping centres has become,” “all brand open in many malls,” and “we not able to finish shopping in a day.” Some sentences are fragments or have unclear clause connections, such as “The main reason is that variety of products” and “Due to this which save travel time and cost.” Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and tense. Shorter, accurately punctuated sentences would improve clarity while you develop more complex structures.
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.