Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-25
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 7.0)
Many manufactured food and drink products contain a large amount of sugar, which can lead to several health problems. Some people believe that these products should be made more expensive t encourage people to consume less sugar. I agree with this opinion because higher prices can reduce consumption and also support public health.
Firstly, increasing the price of sugary products can discourage people from buying them regularly. Many people purchase soft drink, chocolates, sweets and other processed foods because they are cheap and easily available. If their prices increase, consumers may think twice before buying them and may choose healthier alternatives such as fruits, milk or fresh juices. For example, a person who normally uys a sugary drink every day may decide to buy water instead if the price becomes higher. Therefore, higher prices can encourage people to develop healthier eating habits.
Secondly, the additional money collected from taxes on sugary products could be used to improve public health. Governments could spend this money on health campaigns, school programmes and medical services. These programmes could educate people about the harmful effects of excessive sugar consumption and encourage them to follow a balanced diet.
On the other hand, making sugary products more expensive could affect low-income families more than wealthy people. Some people may also argue that individuals should have the freedom to decide what they eat and drink. However, i believe that protecting public health is more important, and people can still buy these products if they choose to do so.
In conclusion, i agree that sugary products should be made more expensive. Although this policy may have some disadvantages, it can reduce sugar consumption and provide additional money for improving public health.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the discussion on how price increases influence consumer behavior and the potential for tax revenue to fund public health initiatives. The counter-argument is acknowledged and addressed, which adds depth to the response. The ideas are well-developed, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. The response meets all requirements for a Band 7, as the position is clear and the arguments are supported with relevant examples.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. While the flow is generally smooth, the transition between the counter-argument and the final rebuttal could be slightly more sophisticated. Overall, the structure is clear and coherent, fitting the criteria for a Band 7.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning with some flexibility. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'manufactured food', 'processed foods', 'public health', and 'balanced diet'. There are some minor errors, such as 'uys' (typo for 'buys') and 't' (typo for 'to'). While the range is adequate for the task, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would push the score into the Band 8 range. However, the vocabulary is precise enough to ensure that communication is never impeded.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and complex structures are attempted with reasonable success, such as conditional sentences ('If their prices increase, consumers may think twice...'). There are a few minor errors, such as the failure to capitalize 'I' in the final two paragraphs and the missing 's' in 'soft drink' (should be plural). These errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The control of punctuation is generally good, though the capitalization errors are noticeable.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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