Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-13

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 6.0)

As far as this topic is concerned, I do agree with the statement that sugary food and drinks should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar. High levels of sugar can cause serious health problems, and increasing prices can be an effective way to reduce consumption.

Firstly, making sugary products more expensive can discourage people from buying them regularly. Many people consume soft drinks, sweets and other sugary products because they are cheap and easily available. If their prices increase, consumers may choose healthier alternatives such as fresh fruits, vegetables and sugar-free drinks. Moreover, the additional tax collected from these products could be used to improve healthcare services and public health campaigns.

On the other hand, increasing the prices of sugary products may affect low-income families more than wealthy people. Some people may continue buying these products despite higher prices. Therefore, governments should also educate the public about the harmful effects of excessive sugar consumption. Schools and media campaigns can encourage people to develop healthier eating habits.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that sugary food and drinks should be made more expensive. Although this policy may place an extra financial burden on some people, it can reduce sugar consumption and encourage healthier lifestyles. Therefore, higher prices combined with public education would be an effective solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student clearly states a position and addresses the prompt by discussing the economic impacts of taxing sugary drinks, considering alternatives such as fresh fruits, and acknowledging counterarguments regarding low-income families. The ideas are relevant and supported with explanations, such as mentioning public health campaigns and education. However, a critical penalty must be applied because the response fails to meet the minimum length requirement, containing only 219 words against the required 250 words. This under-length impacts the full development of ideas, preventing the essay from reaching a higher band. Therefore, it aligns best with the Band 5.5 descriptors, adjusted down for word count.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a logical overall organisation with a clear introduction, body paragraphs supporting different sides of the argument, and a concise conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as the benefits of taxation in the second paragraph and the counterarguments regarding low-income families in the third paragraph. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well, using linking words like 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader through the text. While referencing is generally clear and progression is maintained, the slightly brief nature of the paragraphs limits the full demonstration of flexible cohesion required for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'alternative', 'consumption', 'financial burden', and 'public health campaigns'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, and meaning is communicated clearly throughout the response. Word choice and spelling are generally accurate, with only minor limitations in lexical variety and precision. While the vocabulary is sufficient to allow the reader to follow the arguments easily, the lack of more sophisticated phrasing and idiomatic language keeps the score at a solid Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a satisfactory mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional structures ('If their prices increase, consumers may choose...') and subordinate clauses ('Although this policy may place an extra financial burden...'). There is a good degree of grammatical accuracy overall, and punctuation is handled correctly. While minor slips occur occasionally, errors are infrequent and do not impede communication at any point. The control over simple sentences and the successful generation of complex forms justify a Band 6.5 for grammar.

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