Britfluency

IELTS Writing Task 2: Globalisation and Food

Level: IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
Task type: Positive or negative development
Recommended time: 40 minutes
Word count: At least 250 words

Question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In many countries, people are eating more food from other parts of the world instead of traditional local food.

Is this a positive or negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

How to Write This Essay

This is a positive or negative development essay. You need to decide whether the trend is mainly good, mainly bad or mixed.

The topic is about globalisation and food. More people are eating foreign or international food, while traditional local food may be becoming less common.

A strong answer could be:

This is a mostly positive development because it gives people more choice and helps cultures connect, but it can become negative if traditional food disappears or people rely too much on unhealthy fast food.

This is a clear, balanced position.

Suggested Essay Structure

Introduction
Paraphrase the question and give your opinion clearly.

Body paragraph 1: Why this can be positive
Possible ideas:

  • People can enjoy a wider variety of food.
  • International food can help people learn about other cultures.
  • Restaurants and food businesses can benefit.
  • Migrants and tourists can find familiar food more easily.
  • Some foreign food may be healthy and nutritious.

Body paragraph 2: Why there are possible negatives
Possible ideas:

  • Traditional dishes may become less popular among young people.
  • Local farmers and food producers may lose business.
  • Food culture may become less distinctive.
  • International fast food may increase unhealthy eating habits.
  • Imported food can have a larger environmental impact because of transport.

Conclusion
Repeat your opinion clearly: the trend is positive overall if people still protect local food traditions.

Useful Vocabulary for This Topic

  • globalisation
  • international cuisine
  • traditional local food
  • eating habits
  • food culture
  • cultural identity
  • local dishes
  • imported ingredients
  • fast food chains
  • processed food
  • culinary diversity
  • local farmers
  • food producers
  • cultural exchange
  • nutrition
  • environmental impact
  • preserve traditions
  • wider choice

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not only write about fast food. The question says food from other parts of the world, which can include healthy food, restaurant food and home cooking.

Do not ignore traditional local food. The contrast between international food and local food is central to the question.

Do not give an unclear answer such as “it is both positive and negative” without saying which side is stronger.

Do not claim that all foreign food is unhealthy. This is too simple and inaccurate.

Do not write only about your personal food preferences. You need to discuss the wider social, cultural and economic effects.

Band 6.5 Model Answer

In many countries, people are eating more food from other parts of the world and less traditional local food. In my opinion, this is mostly a positive development because it gives people more choice and helps them learn about other cultures. However, it can also create problems if local food traditions are forgotten.

One clear advantage of this trend is that people can enjoy a wider variety of food. In the past, many people mostly ate dishes from their own country or region. Today, they can try Japanese sushi, Indian curry, Italian pasta or Mexican tacos without travelling abroad. This can make daily life more interesting and can also help people understand other cultures. Food is often connected to history, religion and family life, so eating international dishes can encourage cultural exchange. In addition, restaurants that sell foreign food can create jobs and support the local economy.

However, there are some disadvantages. If people eat foreign food too often, traditional local dishes may become less popular, especially among young people. This could weaken cultural identity because food is an important part of national and family traditions. Another problem is that some international food is unhealthy, especially fast food that is high in fat, salt and sugar. If people replace fresh local meals with processed food, this may lead to health problems such as obesity.

In conclusion, I believe eating food from other countries is generally positive because it gives people more choice and encourages cultural understanding. Nevertheless, people should still value traditional local food and avoid depending too much on unhealthy fast food.

Word count: 259 words

Band 6.5 Feedback

This is a clear and relevant essay. It gives a direct opinion and discusses both the positive and negative sides of the trend.

Why this is around Band 6.5:

Task Response:
The essay answers the question clearly. The writer says the development is mostly positive but recognises possible problems. The ideas are relevant, although some examples are fairly general.

Coherence and Cohesion:
The structure is logical: introduction, positives, negatives and conclusion. Linking phrases such as “however”, “in addition” and “another problem” are used accurately, but the organisation is quite standard.

Lexical Resource:
The vocabulary is appropriate for the topic, including “traditional local dishes”, “cultural exchange”, “local economy”, “cultural identity” and “processed food”. However, the range is not especially advanced.

Grammar:
The grammar is generally accurate. There is some variety in sentence structure, but many sentences are straightforward.

How to improve it:
To reach Band 7 or higher, the essay would need more detailed development, more precise vocabulary and more flexible sentence structures.

Band 8 Model Answer

In many parts of the world, diets are becoming increasingly international, with people choosing foreign dishes more often than traditional local meals. Although this trend can threaten local food cultures if it goes too far, I believe it is largely a positive development because it increases choice, encourages cultural exchange and reflects a more connected world.

One important benefit is that international food gives people access to a much wider range of tastes, ingredients and cooking styles. Someone living in a large city, for example, may be able to eat Korean noodles, Lebanese bread, Thai curry or Italian pasta within the same week. This variety can make eating more enjoyable and may even improve people’s diets if they adopt healthier cooking methods from other cultures. Beyond personal choice, food can also act as a form of cultural education. When people eat dishes from other countries, they often become more curious about the customs, history and communities behind them. In this way, global food culture can make societies more open and outward-looking.

However, this development is not entirely positive. Traditional food is closely connected to identity, family life and local history. If younger generations begin to see local dishes as old-fashioned, important recipes and cooking skills may gradually disappear. There are also economic and health concerns. Local farmers and small food producers may struggle if consumers prefer imported ingredients or international chains. Furthermore, the spread of global fast food can encourage diets high in salt, sugar and saturated fat, which may contribute to obesity and other health problems.

Overall, the growth of international eating habits should be seen as positive, provided it does not replace local food culture completely. People should be free to enjoy food from around the world, but schools, families and governments should also help preserve traditional dishes and promote healthy eating.

Word count: 304 words

Band 8 Explanation

This is a stronger essay because it gives a clear opinion while still dealing with the complexity of the topic.

Task Response:
The essay fully answers the question. It says the development is largely positive, but it also explains the possible cultural, economic and health risks. The position is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion:
The argument is well organised. The first body paragraph explains the benefits of international food. The second body paragraph explains the risks. The conclusion gives a balanced final judgement and connects both sides clearly.

Lexical Resource:
The vocabulary is precise and topic-specific:

  • diets are becoming increasingly international
  • traditional local meals
  • local food cultures
  • cooking styles
  • cultural education
  • outward-looking
  • closely connected to identity
  • younger generations
  • imported ingredients
  • international chains
  • saturated fat
  • preserve traditional dishes

The language is natural, flexible and accurate.

Grammar:
The essay uses a good range of complex structures:

  • “Although this trend can threaten local food cultures if it goes too far…”
  • “Someone living in a large city, for example, may be able to…”
  • “When people eat dishes from other countries, they often become…”
  • “If younger generations begin to see local dishes as old-fashioned…”
  • “People should be free to enjoy food from around the world, but…”

The grammar is controlled and varied.

Key Lesson for Students

For a positive or negative development essay, you need to give a clear judgement.

A strong position for this question is:

Eating more international food is mostly positive because it gives people more choice and encourages cultural exchange, but traditional local food should still be protected.

Useful Phrases for This Essay

Giving your opinion

  • I believe this is largely a positive development.
  • This trend has clear benefits, although it also carries some risks.
  • In my view, the advantages are stronger than the disadvantages.
  • This should be seen as positive, provided local food traditions are not lost.

Explaining positives

  • People now have access to a wider variety of food.
  • International cuisine can encourage cultural exchange.
  • Food can help people learn about other countries and traditions.
  • This variety can make people more open to different cultures.
  • Restaurants serving international food can create jobs and business opportunities.

Explaining negatives

  • Traditional dishes may become less popular among younger generations.
  • Local food culture may gradually weaken.
  • Important recipes and cooking skills could disappear.
  • Imported ingredients may affect local farmers and producers.
  • Global fast food can encourage unhealthy eating habits.

Writing a balanced conclusion

  • Overall, this is a positive trend if traditional food is still valued.
  • International food and local food do not have to be opposites.
  • People can enjoy global cuisine while still preserving their own food culture.

Practice Task

Before reading the model answers again, write your own essay using this position:

Eating food from other parts of the world is mostly positive because it increases choice and cultural understanding, but people should still protect traditional local food.

Try to include:

a clear conclusion with your final opinion

one paragraph about variety, choice and cultural exchange

one paragraph about traditional food, health and local businesses