Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-27

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 7.5)

The shops in cities and towns will eventually close due to the worldwide growth of online shopping. I agree with this statement because online shopping is a more convenient way to purchase products with just a few clicks, while also allowing people to save considerable time.

One of the major benefits of online shopping is that it allows people to save valuable time. In an era of rising inflation and increasing financial responsibilities, many people are forced to work longer hours, which leaves them with limited free time. Therefore, the time saved through online shopping can be spent on other relaxing activities, such as meeting friends, going on picnics, playing sports, and attending yoga classes or going to the gym. As a result, people have more opportunities to improve their mental and physical well-being.

Moreover, global fashion trends encourage people to emulate social media influencers around the world. When influencers promote products such as jewellery, clothes, and shoes, these products can reach millions of followers within a few hours. In such circumstances, travelling to different countries solely for shopping is unnecessary. Consequently, online shopping has become an increasingly attractive option. For example, small brands can expand their customer base rapidly through online shopping platforms, which benefits both businesses and consumers.

In conclusion, although some people still prefer the traditional way of shopping, I believe that online shopping will become increasingly popular in the future because of consumers' hectic lifestyles. It allows them to save time and spend more quality time with their family and friends or participate in activities that promote their health and well-being. This growing preference could eventually lead to the permanent closure of many physical stores in cities and suburbs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses the prompt clearly and maintains a consistent position throughout. You have provided relevant arguments regarding convenience, time-saving, and the influence of social media on consumer habits. However, the argument could be strengthened by addressing the counter-argument more deeply; while you mention that some prefer traditional shopping, you do not fully explore why physical stores might survive (e.g., the need for sensory experience or immediate possession). The ideas are generally well-developed, but the conclusion that all shops will close is a strong claim that could benefit from more nuanced exploration of the 'all' aspect of the prompt. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as time-saving or the influence of social media. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Moreover', 'Therefore', and 'Consequently', to link ideas and sentences. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate. While the structure is sound, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be slightly more fluid to better connect the concept of 'time-saving' to the 'global fashion trends' argument. Overall, the text is easy to follow and demonstrates a clear logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'financial responsibilities', 'emulate social media influencers', and 'expand their customer base' are used appropriately. There is an awareness of style, and the vocabulary is generally natural. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to the retail industry, such as 'brick-and-mortar establishments' or 'omnichannel retail'. The current range is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication without significant errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and causal clauses (e.g., 'When influencers promote products... these products can reach...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is solid. There are no major grammatical errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could experiment with more varied sentence beginnings and perhaps include more advanced structures like inversion or passive voice where appropriate to add stylistic variety. Your current level of accuracy is high, and your command of grammar is consistent throughout the piece.

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