Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-11
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 4.0)
To begin with, there are several reasons why this issue is important in our daily life. The main reason is that it can have a direct effect on people and society. For example, many people face this situation in their daily lives, and it can change their lifestyle in different ways. In addition, this issue can also affect young people, families and the community. Another important point is that it may create both positive and negative effects, depending on how people deal with it. Therefore, it is important to understand this issue carefully and take suitable steps to improve the situation. Overall, this is a significant point that should not be ignored.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0
The response fails to address the prompt entirely. The task asks for an opinion on whether sugary products should be made more expensive to reduce consumption. Your response provides a vague, generic discussion about 'this issue' without ever mentioning sugar, health, or the proposed tax/price increase. Furthermore, the response is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which severely limits your ability to develop any relevant ideas. Because the content is not specific to the prompt and the length requirement is not met, the response does not address the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response is structured as a single paragraph. While there is some attempt at logical flow using transition words like 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'Therefore', the lack of a clear central argument makes the progression of ideas difficult to follow. The ideas are repetitive and lack depth, which prevents the development of a coherent essay structure. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical way, and the lack of paragraphing further hinders the overall organization of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is extremely limited and repetitive. Phrases such as 'this issue', 'important point', and 'different ways' are vague and do not demonstrate the range required for higher bands. There is no attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary related to health, economics, or government policy. The language is functional but lacks the precision and variety necessary to convey complex ideas effectively. To improve, you must focus on using subject-specific terminology and avoiding generic placeholders.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammar is generally accurate in terms of basic sentence construction, but the range of structures is very limited. The text relies heavily on simple and compound sentences. There is a lack of complex grammatical structures, such as relative clauses, conditionals, or passive voice, which are expected at higher levels. While there are few overt grammatical errors, the simplicity of the writing style prevents it from reaching a higher band. You should aim to incorporate more varied sentence patterns to demonstrate control over complex syntax.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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