In many countries nowadays, consumers can go to a supermarket and buy food produced all over the world. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Sample Response
In recent years, food imported from various parts of the world in supermarkets has become prevalent. While some view this trend as positive, I would argue that the repercussions for local producers are a negative overall.
One compelling argument in favor of the availability of globally sourced food in supermarkets is the increased variety it offers consumers. In the distant past, shoppers were limited to consuming locally grown produce, which could result in a monotonous diet lacking diversity. Nowadays, however, supermarkets provide an extensive range of fruits, vegetables, spices, and other food products from different corners of the globe. This enables consumers to explore new flavors and experience diverse culinary traditions, enriching their gastronomic experiences. For instance, in most supermarkets, one can find exotic fruits such as dragon fruit from Vietnam, mangoes from India, and avocados from Mexico. By having access to such diverse options, consumers can broaden their palate and enjoy a more varied and exciting diet.
On the other hand, the easy availability of food produced globally is detrimental for local farmers. When consumers prefer imported goods over locally grown products, it can lead to a decline in demand for local agricultural produce. Local farmers may then face financial difficulties and struggle to sustain their livelihoods. For example, in a study conducted in the United Kingdom, it was found that the demand for imported strawberries during winter had a negative impact on local strawberry farmers. Due to the availability of strawberries from warmer climates, consumers were less inclined to purchase locally grown strawberries, leading to a decline in sales for local producers. This situation not only affected the farmers’ income but also disrupted the local economy in a variety of subtle ways.
In conclusion, although the availability of food produced worldwide in supermarkets offers consumers a wider variety of food choices and experiences, the challenges to local farmers are more significant. Policymakers should promote local farming operations rather than encouraging the imported food industry.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Complete the judgement Original: are a negative overall Suggested revision: make this development negative overall Why it matters: The original complement is ungrammatical because “negative” is an adjective, not a countable noun.
- 2. Avoid exaggeration Original: In the distant past Suggested revision: In the past Why it matters: “Distant” is unnecessary because the comparison only requires a general reference to earlier times.
- 3. Use a concrete noun Original: gastronomic experiences Suggested revision: diets Why it matters: “Diets” expresses the practical benefit more directly and avoids repeating “experience.”
- 4. Match the plural subject Original: palate Suggested revision: palates Why it matters: The plural subject “consumers” requires the distributive plural noun “palates.”
- 5. Use natural collocation Original: easy Suggested revision: ready Why it matters: “Ready availability” is the more conventional collocation for something that is easily obtainable.
- 6. Correct the preposition Original: for Suggested revision: to Why it matters: The adjective “detrimental” takes the preposition “to.”
- 7. Use concise time phrase Original: during Suggested revision: in Why it matters: “In winter” is the more concise conventional phrase for a recurring season.
- 8. Clarify who faces them Original: challenges to local farmers Suggested revision: challenges faced by local farmers Why it matters: The revision clearly identifies farmers as the people experiencing the challenges.
- 9. Name the activity Original: encouraging the imported food industry Suggested revision: encouraging food imports Why it matters: “Food imports” accurately names the activity, whereas “imported food industry” is not a natural expression.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: In recent years, food imported from various parts of the world in supermarkets has become prevalent. Suggested revision: In recent years, imported food from around the world has become prevalent in supermarkets. Why it matters: The revision places “in supermarkets” beside the element it modifies and removes the awkward modifier sequence.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: When consumers prefer imported goods over locally grown products, it can lead to a decline in demand for local agricultural produce. Suggested revision: When consumers prefer imported goods over locally grown products, demand for local agricultural produce can decline. Why it matters: The revision removes the vague pronoun “it” and gives the main clause a clear subject.
Suggested Rewrites
- are a negative overall make this development negative overall
- In the distant past In the past
- gastronomic experiences diets
- palate palates
- easy ready
- for to
Why this response received Band 8.0
The essay sustains a clear overall judgment while developing both consumer benefits and harm to local farmers through focused, well-supported paragraphs. Its main limitation is that the decisive comparison is asserted more than demonstrated, and a few phrases are slightly awkward or over-elaborate. The highest-priority improvement is to explain explicitly why the harm to local producers outweighs the benefit of greater choice.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response addresses the evaluative task fully, maintains a clear position, and develops both sides with relevant examples.
Add a brief comparative explanation showing why the local economic cost carries greater weight than increased consumer variety.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing is purposeful, progression is easy to follow, and cohesive devices are used flexibly throughout.
Make the transition from weighing the two sides to the final judgment slightly more explicit.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, topic-specific, and generally precise, with only isolated awkward choices or unnecessarily ornate phrasing.
Prefer the most natural collocation in places such as detrimental to local farmers and trim vague elaboration such as subtle ways.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The essay demonstrates a wide range of accurately controlled complex structures with only minor, non-impeding lapses.
Refine occasional awkward sentence openings and complement patterns to make already strong grammar consistently natural.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In many countries nowadays, consumers can go to a supermarket and buy food produced all over the world. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.