Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-09
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 7.0)
There has been an ongoing debate about whether online shopping will take over, resulting in closing of all the physical shops in the market. I disagree with the standpoint and will discuss the viewpoints.
To commence with, the main reason why online shopping trend will not ruin the businesses of shopkeepers in the market is the touch and feel of the product. To elaborate, since with online shopping we can only see the product and read its description. It is unpredictable for a buyer to check the quality of the item. Some people can argue that they can read the reviews but while purchasing an expensive product, people prefer to test and check it themselves. As a result, for buying a costly item, visiting shops still seems a reliable option. To exemplify, in 2022, a survey was conducted by BestBuy in Ontario. Shoppers were asked about their preferences and the result showed that 77% of them chose to buy expensive electronics such as laptops and televisions in store because they wanted to have a look and feel of the product they are buying. Furthermore, in case of an urgency, online shopping fails to meet the expectations. This means, if a person wants to buy a product urgently, they prefer to shop in physical stores because an online delivery usually takes about 3 to 4 days in transit. Hence the above-mentioned points illustrate why online shopping will not over take the market of physical stores.
Despite the above discussed reason, there are some people who think the opposite. They have their viewpoint. The contributing factor is they believe that online shopping saves their physical efforts. To expound, since to shop in the market or a physical store they have to travel and walk around to select and buy products, which can be cumbersome for some due to their busy lifestyle. Consequently, they prefer shop online more.
To recapitulate, this essay has discussed that touch and feel of the product and emergency shopping are the reasons why physical store will never lose their essence. I reiterate that the growth of online shopping is widely accepted but it will not shut down the physical shops in cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses the prompt clearly and maintains a consistent position throughout. The arguments regarding the 'touch and feel' aspect and the need for immediate purchases are well-supported with a relevant example. However, the development of the counter-argument is somewhat brief and could have been expanded further to provide a more balanced discussion. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and reinforces the writer's stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that all paragraphs are developed with equal depth, as the counter-argument paragraph is noticeably thinner than the supporting arguments.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'To elaborate', 'Furthermore', and 'To recapitulate' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The progression of ideas is clear, though the link between the counter-argument paragraph and the rest of the essay could be smoother. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, with some good collocations like 'ongoing debate', 'cumbersome', and 'physical efforts'. There are occasional instances of slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'online shopping trend will not ruin the businesses' or 'over take the market of physical stores'. While the range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding the use of topic-specific vocabulary related to retail and consumer behavior would enhance the lexical quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as sentence fragments ('Since with online shopping we can only see the product and read its description.') and minor issues with articles or pluralization ('closing of all the physical shops'). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the communication remains effective. The writer shows control over basic grammar, but more consistent accuracy in complex structures is needed to achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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