Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-17

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 6.5)

The rapid growth of online shopping has transformed the way people purchase goods and services. Some people believe that this trend wil eventually result in the closure of all physical shops in towns and cities. I disagree with this view, because although online shopping will continue to grow, traditional shops offer several advantages that cannot be fully replaced by the internet.

One major reason why physical shops will continue to exist is that many customers prefer to see and examine products before purchasing them. This is particularly important whhen buying clothes, shoes, furniture or electronic devices. In a physical store, customers can check the quality, size and appearance of an item and receive immediate assisstance from sales staff. Furthermore, some products require personal interaction or professional advice, which is not always available through an online platform.

Another important factor is the social and economic role of traditional shops. Shopping areas provide employment for local people and contribute to the character of towns and cities. Many consumers also enjoy visiting shopping centres, restaurants and local markets as form of entertainment rather than simply buying products. Therefore, physical shops are likely to adapt to changing consumer perferences instead of disappearing completly.

However, online shopping does have significant advantages, including convenience, competitive prices and home delivery. As a result, some small businesses that cannot compete with large online retailers may be forced to close. Nevertheless, many physical stores are already combining online serivces with traditional shopping.

In conclusion, although online shopping will continue to expand and may reduce the number of some traditional stores, I do not believe it will lead to the complete disappearance of physical shops. A combination of online and in-store shopping is more likely to become the dominant model in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task prompt regarding whether all physical shops will close due to online shopping. The writer takes a clear and well-developed position throughout the essay, disagreeing with the statement. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the need to examine products like clothes or shoes before buying, and the social and economic roles that shopping areas play in towns and cities. The arguments are logical and well-reasoned, moving naturally from consumer preferences to economic impacts and the eventual adaptation of traditional stores. Overall, this performance aligns closely with Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction that clearly states the writer's position, followed by body paragraphs exploring different facets of the argument, and a concise concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'One major reason', 'Another important factor', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the text. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the essay flows smoothly without unnatural interruptions. This reflects the criteria for a solid Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, employing terms like 'transformed', 'consumer preferences', 'competitiveness', and 'dominate model'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary and phraseology with good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'professional advice' and 'economic role'. While there are a few minor spelling errors (e.g., 'wil', 'whhen', 'assisstance', 'perferences', 'completly', 'serivces'), these do not impede communication and are typical of a strong performance that bridges the gap between Band 6 and Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good variety of complex structures alongside simpler sentences, demonstrating decent control over grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include conditional and concessive clauses such as 'although online shopping will continue to grow, traditional shops offer several advantages' and 'some small businesses that cannot compete with large online retailers may be forced to close.' While there are occasional typographical or spelling slips as noted previously, the majority of complex sentences are well-constructed and error-free, maintaining clarity throughout the text. This performance sits comfortably at Band 7.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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