Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-05

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 5.5)

Nowadays, many food and beverages industries manufacture products that contain excessive amounts of sugar. The consumption of these products is a threat to human well-being. Additionally, regular consumption of these products is main cause of organ damage in our bodies. Therefore, it is advised to increase the prices of these sugary items to discourage consumption of these health-deteriorating edibles. Hence, I firmly agree with this statement that the health of people is far more important than the sales of any company.

Since industrialization, global sugar production increased significantly. Sugar plants produce millions of tons of raw sugar every year. This sugar then becomes part of our diets by the means of several eating and drinking items. Today, the packaged food is the main source of added sugars in our diets. Regular consumption of these products can cause many health problems. For instance, diabetes is a major health issues people suffer from these days. This is caused by increased glucose levels in the blood stream. Additionally, in the long term, diabetes is the causative agent of many other complications including heart issues and increasing cholesterol levels. Moreover, increased prices of sugary products could encourage people to switch to other healthier options, for instance, they could prefer fresh juices and water, etc.

To conclude, although it is labeled safe to use sugar in controlled limit, but the over-consumption of these products are the main cause of many health related problems. Hence, the increase in the prices of these goods would be considered a good measure to encourage less consumption and to revert people

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The response addresses the prompt by discussing the health impacts of sugar and the potential effectiveness of a price increase. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that price increases could encourage healthier choices, this point could be expanded with more specific reasoning or examples of how this policy has worked elsewhere or why it might be effective. The conclusion is incomplete, as it cuts off mid-sentence, which prevents a full summary of your argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting arguments are fully explored and that your conclusion is complete.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is generally coherent, with a clear logical progression from the problem (health issues) to the proposed solution (price increases). You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Therefore', 'Hence', and 'For instance' to link your ideas. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, and the abrupt ending of the final paragraph disrupts the overall flow. The transition between the historical context of sugar production and the current health crisis is logical, but ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence to guide the reader through your argument more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'excessive amounts', 'health-deteriorating', and 'causative agent'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'by the means of' (which should be 'by means of') and 'in controlled limit' (which should be 'in controlled limits' or 'in moderation'). While you attempt some less common vocabulary, the overall range is sufficient but not particularly sophisticated. To improve, focus on more precise collocations and ensure that your word choices are consistently natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'is main cause' (missing article 'the'), 'health issues people suffer' (should be 'health issues that people suffer from'), and 'the over-consumption of these products are' (subject-verb agreement error: 'is' should be used). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Additionally, ensure that your sentences are complete, as the unfinished final sentence is a significant grammatical issue.

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