Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-30

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 6.5)

Globally, there has been rise in the companies selling products with high levels of sugar. Marketing strategies along with products tailored to be hyper-pallatable have made people almost addicted to food with high sugar content. Given that a number of trials have already established the adverse effects of consumption of such food, I believe at both personal and social level we must all work to reduce its consumption.

Powerful stakeholders in the sugar industry have traditionally painted a false idea of sugar as being a high energy, essential food ingredient for all. There have been claims of big companies falsifying results of studies that would have otherwise proven the ill effects of excessive sugar consumption. Decades after, we are witnessing its impact; Indians have become far more susceptible to cardiac conditions, obesity and diabetes. Previously the age group that was considered as high risk of heart attack was the middle age but currently the prevalence among those under the age of 40 has increased substantially. This can partially be attributed to companies selling highly processed foods with sugar content that is substantially higher than the recommended safe amounts. Additionally, the products could also lead to hormonal imbalance causing a separate set of health issues. The problem can largely be prevented by stricter regulations on food corporations to prevent exploitation of vulnerable population. Fortunately, in recent years public has caught on to these companies and have started to shift to safer alternatives and are even considering home grown brands.

A possible solution in addition to stringent laws is to simply increase the prices of such products, making it less attractive to buyers. In the present day, low-sugar alternatives of the same products are often sold at higher prices than their regular, high-sugar counterparts. Diet Coke is a popular example of this trend. This raises the question of why consumers should have to pay more for a product containing less sugar. Therefore, I believe it is tenable to hike the prices of these unhealthy products that have potential long-term health impact on our population.

In conclusion, several measures, including raising prices to deter consumption along with governments policies can help reduce the burden of diseases that result from the consumption of foods with extremely high sugar content.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the prompt, taking a clear stance that sugary products should indeed be made more expensive while also considering broader regulatory solutions. The introduction clearly outlines your position, and the body paragraphs develop relevant ideas, such as the rising incidence of health issues in younger populations and the economic irony of low-sugar alternatives being priced higher. While the discussion touches broadly on Indian demographics as an example, the arguments are generally well-supported and extended throughout the essay. The task is addressed thoroughly and meets the criteria for Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the background of the sugar industry and health impacts in the second paragraph, to the specific pricing solution in the third, and concluding effectively. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'Additionally', 'A possible solution in addition to', and 'In conclusion', though paragraph transitions could occasionally be smoother. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, resulting in a cohesive structure that easily earns a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating less common items and subject-specific terminology such as 'hyper-pallatable', 'hormonal imbalance', and 'stringent laws'. There are occasional slight lexical slips or awkward phrasings, such as writing 'has been rise' (missing article) and referring to 'public' without an article. Nevertheless, your lexical control allows for precision and style, comfortably fitting the Band 7.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a good variety of complex structures and demonstrates solid overall control of grammar and punctuation. You use subordinate clauses and participial phrases effectively, as seen in sentences like 'Given that a number of trials have already established...'. While there are a few minor slips—such as missing articles ('has been rise', 'public has caught on') and a subject-verb agreement issue ('products could also lead... and have started')—frequent error-free sentences predominate, ensuring that meaning is never impeded. This performance aligns well with Band 7.0.

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