Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-05
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)
In the era of modernisation, everyone is preferring to shop online and now even for small things like grocery people order from online apps which had a great negative impact on all shops. I am partially agree on this statement and reasons behind this will be explained the upcoming paragraphs.
To begin with, every individual is busy in their own life and everyone wants to save money, so they used to compare prices between online and shops as well. If someone is not getting time to do shopping by roaming around shops so they also prefer online shopping. However, some people prefer it because sometimes there is a more variety online rather than shops. For example, it was my graduation day last month and i explored a lot of shops and I didn't get any dress according to my taste and when I searched online I ordered immediately so that I cannot miss the chance to get that dress.
Secondly, if everyone will prefer online shopping rather than shopping in-person it will lead to a great negative impact on all shops because it will be a great loss for shopkeepers if no-one comes to their shop they have to close their shops and have to starve for their basic needs. Moreover, every thing which is sold online is not relevant to everyone because in some countries some people are still unaware of online shopping and they do not have enough money to spend on online shopping.
To conclude, as mentioned in above paragraphs it will not possible that online shopping will replace shops because some people still prefer shopping at shops because of their satisfaction and according to their will.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both sides of the argument, though the position is somewhat inconsistent. While you state you are 'partially agree', the development of ideas is limited. The argument regarding the negative impact on shopkeepers is relevant, but the point about people being 'unaware of online shopping' is less persuasive in the context of the future of retail. To improve, ensure that your main points are fully extended with more logical analysis rather than just stating the consequences. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented in the body paragraphs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'because' and 'so'. Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, and the logical flow within paragraphs could be smoother. For instance, the transition from discussing personal convenience to the economic impact on shopkeepers lacks a strong linking phrase. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the 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. You rely on basic terms like 'things', 'shops', and 'online'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'everyone is preferring' (should be 'everyone prefers') and 'roaming around shops'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to commerce, such as 'brick-and-mortar stores', 'e-commerce', 'consumer behavior', or 'market saturation'. The current range is sufficient to communicate your ideas, but it does not demonstrate a wide or flexible command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'I am partially agree' (should be 'I partially agree'), 'everyone is busy in their own life' (should be 'everyone is busy with their own life'), and 'it will not possible' (should be 'it will not be possible'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and verb tense consistency. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to distract the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of modal verbs would help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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