Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-07

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 7.0)

Many manufactured food and drink products contain an excessive amount of sugar. Some people believe that sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to reduce their sugar consumption. I agree with this view because higher prices can help people consume less sugar and support public health.

To begin with, I agree that higher prices can encourage people to consume less sugar. When products become more expensive, people may be less willing to buy them regularly, particularly if they have cheaper alternatives. For example, if products such as cold drinks and packaged foods become more expensive, consumers may choose to buy them less often. As a result, consuming less sugar can lead to better health.

Another reason is that taxes on sugary products can generate additional revenue for governments. This money can be used to fund health campaigns, improve healthcare systems, and support programmes that encourage healthier lifestyles. For instance, governments could use the revenue to teach children about the risks of excessive sugar consumption and the benefits of a balanced diet. Consequently, such taxes could help people make healthier choices and reduce the number of sugar-related health problems.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that sugary food and drinks should be made more expensive because higher prices can discourage people from consuming these products regularly and encourage them to choose healthier alternatives. Furthermore, the additional revenue collected through taxes can be invested in healthcare services, health-awareness campaigns, and educational programmes. Therefore, increasing the price of sugary products can be an effective way to reduce excessive sugar consumption and improve public health.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position from the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the argument regarding government revenue, which adds depth beyond the simple price-demand relationship. Each paragraph is focused, and the conclusion effectively synthesises the main points. To reach a higher band, you could include a brief counter-argument or a nuance about the potential impact on low-income families, which would demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking and task extension.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'As a result', 'Another reason is', and 'Furthermore' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow is natural, and the reader is never confused about the direction of your reasoning.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'excessive amount of sugar', 'balanced diet', and 'health-awareness campaigns' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the task, it is somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to economics or public policy, such as 'fiscal measures', 'deterrent', or 'mitigate'. However, your word choice is consistently accurate and never impedes communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good control of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'if products such as cold drinks... become more expensive, consumers may choose to...'. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are very few grammatical errors. The writing is clear and easy to follow. To improve further, you could experiment with more varied sentence beginnings or more complex subordinate clauses to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical flexibility.

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