Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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)

In recent years, sugar consumption has become a widely debated issue. Although there are arguments on both sides, I strongly agree with the view that manufactured food should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar, mainly because this could improve consumer health and help people save money.

The primary reason why I agree with this view is that it could improve the health of individuals. This is mainly because if the prices of sugar-containing foods and drinks are increased, people may be less likely to buy these kinds of products. As a result, they may consume less sugar and consequently improve their overall health. For example, if sugary foods are cheap, they are easily affordable for everyone, which can encourage people to consume them regularly. However, if the prices of these products are increased, people may be less willing to purchase them. Therefore, increasing the prices of sugar-containing products could encourage people to consume less sugar and, in turn, improve their health.

Another important reason for my position is that higher prices for unhealthy products could help people save money instead of spending it on unhealthy items. One reason for this is that if the government increases taxes on sugary products, people may avoid purchasing expensive unhealthy foods and save their money instead. For instance, many people regularly spend money on inexpensive sugary snacks and drinks. However, if the cost of these products increases, consumers may be less likely to buy them. Consequently, higher prices for unhealthy products could reduce unnecessary spending, which further supports my view that such a policy could be beneficial.

In conclusion, I firmly agree with the view that sugar-containing products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar. This is because such a measure could improve people's health and help them save money, both of which could have a significant positive impact on society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, particularly in the body paragraphs. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; the argument that higher prices lead to lower consumption is restated multiple times without introducing new dimensions, such as the potential impact on low-income households or the effectiveness of alternative measures like education. To reach a higher band, the response would benefit from more nuanced exploration of the topic, perhaps by acknowledging counter-arguments or discussing the broader societal implications of such a tax policy beyond individual health and personal savings.

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 sentence, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'The primary reason', 'Another important reason', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'This is mainly because' and 'if... then' structures. To improve, the writer should aim for a more varied range of linking words and better integration of ideas to ensure the flow feels more natural and less formulaic.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. The writer uses topic-specific terms like 'sugar consumption', 'manufactured food', and 'unhealthy products'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, with frequent use of basic words like 'improve', 'increase', and 'buy'. There is a lack of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions that would demonstrate a higher level of proficiency. To achieve a higher score, the writer should incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations, such as 'mitigate health risks', 'fiscal measures', or 'curb consumption', to show greater flexibility and precision in their writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good control of grammar, with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and punctuation is generally accurate. The writer successfully uses conditional sentences (e.g., 'if the prices... are increased, people may be less likely to buy'). While the grammar is reliable, the range of structures is somewhat restricted; there is a heavy reliance on 'if' clauses and simple subject-verb-object patterns. To reach a higher band, the writer should attempt to include a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions, relative clauses, or inverted sentences, while maintaining the current level of accuracy.

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