Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-19

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)

It is often argued that sugary foods and drinks should be made more expensive to reduce their consumption and improve public health. I completely agree with this view.

The main reason to support higher prices for sugary products is the serious health problems caused by sugar. Excessive sugar consumption is directly linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and tooth decay. For example, in Pakistan, the number of diabetes patients has increased dramatically because people drink too many soft drinks and eat sweets. If the government increases the price through a sugar tax, people will be forced to buy less, which will improve their health. This has already worked in countries like the UK, where a tax on sugary drinks reduced sales significantly.

Another argument is that higher prices will encourage manufacturers to produce healthier alternatives. When sugary products become expensive, companies will try to make low-sugar or sugar-free products to attract customers. For instance, many companies now offer diet drinks and biscuits with less sugar. As a Chemistry student, I know that reducing sugar in processed food is possible and healthier. This change would benefit both consumers and the food industry in the long term.

Some people argue that making sugary products expensive is unfair for poor people. However, I think public health is more important than cheap unhealthy food. The government can use the money from the sugar tax to promote health education and provide healthy food in schools.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that making sugary products more expensive is a necessary step. It will reduce health problems, encourage healthier manufacturing, and ultimately lead to a healthier society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear, well-supported position in total agreement with the prompt. The writer presents relevant and well-developed ideas, supporting them with convincing explanations and specific real-world examples, such as the mention of Pakistan's rising diabetes rates and the UK's sugar tax. The arguments regarding health outcomes and manufacturing shifts are extended logically, and the counterargument regarding low-income consumers is effectively rebutted. The response meets all the requirements of Task 2 with a fully developed position throughout, demonstrating strong task response matching the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a clear thesis, moving through health and industry arguments, addressing a counterargument, and concluding effectively. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'The main reason', 'Another argument', and 'In conclusion', though referencing and transitions could be slightly more varied. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall progression of ideas is easy to follow, aligning well with the Band 7 criteria.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, such as 'excessive sugar consumption', 'processed food', and 'public health'. There is an attempt to use less common items with general awareness of style and collocation, like 'dramatically' and 'significantly'. While there are a few minor lexical choices that could be more sophisticated, the vocabulary used is more than adequate for the task and allows the writer to convey precise meanings without impeding communication, representing solid Band 6.5 to 7 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The writer employs conditional structures ('If the government increases the price...', 'When sugary products become expensive...') and relative clauses accurately. There is good control of grammar and punctuation, with frequent error-free sentences. Although occasional minor slips might occur, they do not impede communication in any way. The grammatical control and range displayed comfortably meet the requirements for a Band 7 score.

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