Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-28
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)
Some people argue that the growth and the development of online shopping will one day make all markets and stores in cities closing. In my opinion, I disagree with that point. Despite the growth of online shopping, the on-site shops will still remain and be needed from a lot of people.
To begin with, I believe that the shops and stores that are in all cities and towns are extremely important in our lives. Most people still enjoy going out and shopping from the malls and shops, either for entertainment as a hobby or for some of them to try on the clothes or shoes before buying. For instance, some people do not prefer buying online due to the delivery issues and the companies' problems. Therefore, they just go shopping in the closest shops and stores without any suggested online problems.
In addition, I think that the on-site shops are crucial in any country all over the world. They play a significant role in the country's economy and business. All shops and malls can lead to the development of the income of their country. For example, a lot of tourists and visitors travel all over the world and prefer to go shopping in the shops and stores in that country. So, it will lead to an enhancement of the local business.
In conclusion, from my perspective, I believe that a lot of people still prefer shopping from the shops and stores rather than shopping online. Therefore, all shops will remain active in all cities and towns, for the benefits of the individuals and for the authorities.
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
You have clearly stated your position and maintained it throughout the essay. The response addresses the prompt by providing reasons why physical shops will persist, such as the desire for physical interaction and the economic role of retail. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the point about 'delivery issues' is mentioned but not fully explored, and the economic argument is a bit repetitive. To reach a higher band, try to provide more detailed examples or deeper analysis of the counter-arguments to show a more sophisticated understanding of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use basic cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more varied. For instance, the repetition of 'shops and stores' throughout the text makes the writing feel slightly monotonous. Improving the variety of transition signals and using pronouns or synonyms to link ideas more fluidly would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'on-site shops', 'economy', and 'enhancement'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'shops and stores'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms or topic-specific collocations, such as 'brick-and-mortar retailers', 'consumer experience', or 'economic vitality'. There are no major spelling errors, but the word choice is generally functional rather than sophisticated.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. While your meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'needed from a lot of people' (should be 'needed by') and 'development of the income of their country' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and preposition choice. To achieve a higher score, focus on refining your control over complex sentence structures and ensuring that prepositions and verb patterns are used more accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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