Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
The growth of online shopping will one day lead to all shops in towns and cities closing.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
According to statement i partially agree in the future people might choose online shopping but many people still believe to go out
I do believe people prefer to go out and do shopping rather than online because people still not trust the online shopping. Many people still like to visit mall and supermarket to spend time withe their families and friends they considired it as their way of spending their free time and make memories .Many adults when they order something through online for eg. shoes or cloths sometimes they receive wrong size and they have to make an return for it and in between the process it takes around
1-2 weeks and aslo when they request for refund many companies refund the money in their shopping website rather than sending directly to their bank account so they prefer to go out and shop their own rather than waiting for too long.
On the other hand people still use many online Aplications like Instacart , uber eats etc. for their daily needs especailly the food and all other house needs. Nowadays youth and people are in their comfort zone which makes them so lazy that they dont like to go out .Acc to the survey conducted by Oxford University in 2023 daily about 15% of people order baiscs things daily and about 25-30% of young people order foods online and on and on an avg around 20% in men and 30% in women order cloths online. Sometimes in huge party and gathering no ones want to go out in between so they just order it online.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by providing arguments for both sides of the issue. However, the position is somewhat underdeveloped. While you mention that you 'partially agree', the essay lacks a clear, cohesive argument that synthesizes these views into a strong conclusion. The ideas regarding the social aspect of shopping and the convenience of online apps are relevant, but the supporting evidence, such as the Oxford University reference, feels slightly anecdotal and lacks depth. To improve, ensure that each paragraph clearly links back to your central thesis and provides a more balanced exploration of why physical shops might or might not disappear entirely.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'On the other hand' are used correctly, but there is a lack of sophisticated transitions between sentences within paragraphs. The flow is occasionally interrupted by abrupt shifts in topic, such as the transition from the return policy of online stores to the use of food delivery apps. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will help improve the overall flow and coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several instances of repetitive word choice, such as the frequent use of 'people' and 'order'. Additionally, there are some spelling errors ('Aplications', 'especailly', 'baiscs', 'cloths' instead of 'clothes') and minor collocation issues. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to retail, consumer behavior, and digital trends, while also working on accuracy in spelling and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'people still not trust'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'make an return'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly regarding the use of commas and spacing. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent sentence structure will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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