In many countries, people like to eat a wider range of food than can be grown in their local place. Therefore, much of the food people eat today has to come from other regions. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh disadvantages?
Sample Response
These days, it is quite common for people to eat foods that are not or cannot be grownnot, or cannot, be grown or produced where they live. As a consequence, large quantities of food are either transported long distances within a country or imported from other countries. This essay will review some of the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.
Thanks to globalization, the development of efficient transportthe increase in efficient transportation between and within countries, and growing interest in food culturea growing trend in food culture, people can now enjoy a wider array of foods than ever beforea vast array of foods like never before. This trend has many advantages. Firstly, having access to a wide variety of foods from different regions can provide people with a highly nutritious diet that can help to promote health and prevent disease. For example, some kinds of nutrient-rich berries that can only be grown in Asia can now be enjoyed by people all over the world. Furthermore, with such a growing interest in exotic foods and food culture, people can experience a range of cuisinescuisine without leaving their own town or city.
However, this trend also comes with a number of disadvantages. For example, some communities around the world where exotic and rare foods are grown are losing their own access to their food sources. When demand for a certain food increases, the price also increases, and people in poorer countries where the food is grown sometimes cannot affordcan sometimes not afford to buy it anymore. Another problem with this trend is that the constant transportation of foods over long distances contributes to climate change due to the high level of carbon emissionsthe large amount of carbon emissions generated in transitproduced by transportation. LastlyAnd lastly, many foods that are transported long distances need to be treated with chemicals and preservatives which make them less healthy to consume.
Overall, although there are many benefits to having access to a wide variety of foods, I believepersonally, I believe that the disadvantages of this trend outweigh the advantages.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response is well organised and develops a relevant range of benefits and drawbacks with clear examples, while the conclusion gives an unambiguous judgement. The main limitation is that the essay presents the two sides more as a review than a sustained comparison, so the reason the disadvantages outweigh the advantages is not fully demonstrated. Make the comparative evaluation explicit throughout, weighing the scale and significance of each side before the conclusion.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response addresses both sides with relevant, developed ideas and reaches a clear judgement, though the weighing of those sides is mostly postponed until the conclusion.
Evaluate the relative importance of the benefits and harms within the body paragraphs so the final judgement is fully substantiated.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress clearly through a balanced four-paragraph structure, and cohesive devices guide the reader without obscuring the argument.
Strengthen the comparison between the two body sections with a more explicit evaluative transition before the conclusion.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is broad, natural and topic-specific, with only occasional imprecision in phrases concerning transport efficiency and cuisine.
Refine the few awkward combinations and avoid unnecessary plural use of food when referring to food in general.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, and the few minor lapses do not impede communication.
Polish sentence openings and punctuation so additions such as the final disadvantage are integrated in a consistently formal style.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In many countries, people like to eat a wider range of food than can be grown in their local place. Therefore, much of the food people eat today has to come from other regions. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh disadvantages?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.