Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. Sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar.

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)

Nowadays it is evident that almost all the packaged food and beverages are found to be high in sugar, leading to many health related issues. To encourage people to take less sugar, many argue that these products should be made expensive. I disagree with this idea because it is going to poise financial strains on both consumers and businesses.

Firstly, making sugary products more expensive would place a financial burden on low-income families. Many family buy this products because they are affordable and convenient, especially when they have busy lifestyles. If the price increase significantly, families with limited income will have fewer food choices, while affluent people may continue buying the same products without being affected. Since less people is going to buy them, which ultimately ruins the local businesses whose income depends on selling these products, Therefore, higher prices may not reduce sugar consumption equally among all groups.

Secondly, instead of raising prices, governments should focus on educating people about healthy eating habits and encouraging food manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar in their products. Schools can teach children about nutrition, and clear food labels can help consumers make better decisions. In the long run, education creates lasting behavioural changes, whereas higher prices may only provide a temporary solution.

In conclusion, I disagree that increasing the prices of sugar products is the best way to reduce sugar intake. Although, initially it may discourage people from buying these products but it could place financial difficulties for many families. Therefore I believe that education and healthier food policies are more effective and sustainable solutions in the long run.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have clearly stated your position against the proposal and maintained it throughout the essay. The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing relevant arguments regarding financial strain on low-income families and the potential for alternative solutions like education. The ideas are extended and supported with logical reasoning. To reach a higher band, you could further develop the counter-argument by acknowledging the potential benefits of a sugar tax before refuting them, which would demonstrate a more nuanced approach to the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' effectively. However, there are some minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the sentence 'Since less people is going to buy them, which ultimately ruins the local businesses...' which is a sentence fragment and lacks a clear subject-verb connection to the previous clause. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'financial strains', 'affluent', 'nutritional', and 'sustainable'. The meaning is consistently clear. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'poise financial strains' (should be 'pose') and 'this products' (should be 'these products'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure subject-verb agreement in your phrasing. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate your ideas effectively but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'Many family buy this products' (should be 'Many families buy these products'), 'less people is going to buy' (should be 'fewer people are going to buy'), and 'it could place financial difficulties' (should be 'it could cause financial difficulties'). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and pluralization will significantly improve your accuracy.

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