Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-05

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 the trend of shopping from big shopping malls is growing. In past few years, people have started travelling to mega malls and super markets for shopping, dut to which local area shops have closed. This essay will illustrate its positive impacts on development.

Initially, big shopping malls and super markets have a very positive impact on the development. They play a key role in providing employment opportunites. Things are available there from the variety of brands. People have no need to go to various shops for buying different things because every things is available at one place now. They have to go to various sections to buy the things that they needed. Moreover, prices are displayed at each section. Hence, there is no need to ask shopkeeper. Vegetables and grocery sections are also there. Each thing is displayed properly.

Above mentioned facilites are drawing the attention of people toward such malls. This thing is very beneficial for them economically. Establishment of such malls have positive impact on the infrastructrue of big cities. Malls have all kind of things from low to high level and it is beneficial for those who cannot afford to buy expensive things.

To conclude, it is a good thing to prefer to go to big malls for shopping rather then some local shop. In this way we can get a chance to buy latest and good quality things. In my view point such malls have a very positive influence on the development and economy of a country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you consider the growth of malls a positive development, and you give relevant reasons, including employment, convenience, and access to goods at different price levels. However, the response addresses the issue only partially because it focuses almost entirely on benefits to shoppers and cities, without explaining the consequences of local shops closing or acknowledging any disadvantages. Several points are asserted rather than developed; for example, the claim that malls benefit the economy is not supported with a specific explanation or example. To strengthen the response, explain how the closure of local shops affects communities and then support your overall judgement with a concrete example or fuller reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, a main discussion, and a conclusion, and the ideas generally relate to your positive position. However, progression within the body is limited: the discussion moves from employment to product variety, pricing, and infrastructure without clearly showing how these points connect or which are most important. Linking phrases such as “Initially,” “Moreover,” and “Hence” help signal relationships, but some connections feel mechanical, and “This thing” is an unclear reference. The conclusion repeats the main view rather than drawing together the reasons. Group related benefits into a clearer sequence and use precise references and transitions to show how each point supports your argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate your main ideas, including “employment opportunities,” “variety of brands,” and “infrastructure.” However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, particularly “things,” “big malls,” and “positive impact.” Some choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as “positive impacts on development,” “all kind of things,” and “latest and good quality things.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “opportunites,” “facilites,” and “infrastructrue,” which reduce the accuracy of the vocabulary. Aim for more precise terms for products, services, and local businesses, and check spelling carefully. This will make your points clearer and more convincing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt some longer sentence forms, including the opening sentence with “because” and the sentence beginning “People have no need to go to various shops.” Most sentences remain simple, however, and errors in articles, agreement, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make the writing less controlled. Examples include “In past few years” (missing an article), “every things is available” (incorrect agreement and plural form), and “Establishment of such malls have” (agreement). The phrase “They have to go to various sections to buy the things that they needed” also shifts tense unnecessarily. Practise accurate basic sentence patterns first, then add subordinate clauses while checking articles, subject–verb agreement, and consistent tense.

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