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)
It is often argued that the growth of online shopping will one day lead to all shops in towns and cities closing. Whether agree or disagree this essay will discuss both sides.
On the one hand, there are several reasons why people believe that the growth of online shopping will one day lead to all shops in towns and cities closing. Sometimes agree. The main reason is that it is easy to access shopping online sites for a particular needs of people, just search put to cart ,pay and the courier will deliver on your door steps. For example during covid times, because of lockdowns, people have no choice but to order online, like groceries ,food and things we need. Therefore, many people prefer online shopping rather to going out.
On the other hand, disagree. One important reason is you cannot really rely on the images shown on online sites. Sometimes it is small or big size when it arrive. It’s not what you see what you get. For example you ordered a large size but it arrived a small size. It is really a hassle giving it back to the store where you purchase it. That’s why as for me I really love buying at the actual store rather than ordering to online shops. But if I do not have a choice I will order online.
In conclusion both views have their merits. However, I believe that the shops in town and cities will be not be closing because of the growth of online shopping. There is still a balance between the two.
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, but the development of ideas is limited. While you present both sides, the arguments are somewhat repetitive and lack depth. For instance, the point about online shopping being convenient is supported by the example of COVID-19, but the counter-argument regarding product quality is underdeveloped. The position is clear in the conclusion, but the introduction is slightly disjointed, as it asks 'Whether agree or disagree' rather than stating your own stance. To improve, ensure each paragraph provides a more detailed explanation of the 'why' behind your points, moving beyond simple observations to more analytical reasoning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' are used correctly, but there is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas within paragraphs. Some sentences feel disconnected, such as 'Sometimes agree' and 'Sometimes it is small or big size when it arrive.' Improving the flow between sentences using transition words like 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'nevertheless' would significantly enhance the logical progression of your argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive language such as 'things we need' and 'hassle.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'ordering to online shops' instead of 'ordering from online shops' and 'put to cart' instead of 'add to cart.' To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to retail, consumer behavior, and digital commerce, and focus on using words in their correct grammatical context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'shops in town and cities will be not be closing' (double 'be'), 'when it arrive' (subject-verb agreement), and 'ordering to online shops' (preposition error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of basic sentence construction, particularly regarding verb tenses and prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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