Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-27

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 7.5)

It is widely believed that the high amount of sugar in processed foods and drinks is responsible for a range of health problems. Some people argue that increasing the price of sugary products is an effective way to reduce their consumption. I agree with this view because higher prices can discourage excessive consumption and encourage manufacturers to produce healthier alternatives.

One major reason for increasing the price of sugary products is that it can influence people’s purchasing decisions. If soft drinks, sweets and other high-sugar foods become more expensive, consumers may choose cheaper and healthier alternatives, such as fresh fruit, vegetables or sugar-free drinks. This could be particularly effective among young people, who often consume sugary snacks and beverages regularly. Moreover, a reduction in sugar consumption could help lower the risk of health problems such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Another important benefit is that higher prices could encourage food companies to reduce the amount of sugar in their products. If consumers begin avoiding expensive sugary products, manufacturers may have a financial incentive to develop healthier options. For example, companies could produce drinks with less added sugar or offer more low-sugar snacks. In addition, money collected through a sugar tax could potentially be used to fund public health campaigns, school nutrition programmes and other measures aimed at improving people’s diets.

However, simply increasing prices may not solve the problem completely. Some people may continue buying sugary products despite higher prices, while low-income consumers could be affected more severely. Therefore, taxation should be combined with other measures, such as clearer nutritional labels, public education and restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods to children.

In conclusion, I agree that making sugary products more expensive can help reduce sugar consumption and encourage healthier choices. Nevertheless, it should be used alongside education and other public-health measures to achieve a more significant long-term impact.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by clearly taking a stance on whether sugary products should be made more expensive. The writer provides well-developed arguments supporting the view, discussing both consumer purchasing decisions and corporate incentives for product reformulation. Furthermore, the counter-argument is thoughtfully addressed in the fourth paragraph, which considers the impact on low-income consumers and proposes complementary solutions like taxation combined with education and labeling. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, and ideas are extended and supported effectively with relevant examples such as soft drinks, fresh fruit, and public health campaigns. The response meets all criteria for a high band in task response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear, logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a clear introduction, moving through well-structured body paragraphs focusing on consumer behavior, industry response, and counter-arguments, and ending with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'One major reason', 'Another important benefit', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' are managed effectively to guide the reader smoothly from one idea to the next. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear and precise, ensuring the writing flows naturally without awkward transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer uses a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion on public health and taxation. Less common lexical items and collocations are employed with good awareness of style, such as 'excessive consumption', 'financial incentive', 'public health campaigns', and 'nutritional labels'. Word choice is generally precise, and collocation is natural throughout the response. While it stops just short of the wide, highly sophisticated lexical control required for a Band 8 or 9, the vocabulary is more than adequate to convey complex ideas clearly and accurately with virtually no noticeable errors in spelling or word formation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a very strong control of grammar and punctuation. The writer successfully employs a wide variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses ('If consumers begin avoiding...', 'If soft drinks... become more expensive...') and participial phrases ('aimed at improving people’s diets'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. While minor occasional slips might occur in complex formulations, there are no systematic errors, and grammar never impedes communication. The structural variety and accuracy comfortably align with the Band 8 descriptor.

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