Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-03

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)

Many people argue that high levels of sugar are present in manufactured food and drink products. However I totally disagree with the idea that making the sugary products expensive could stop people from consuming it.

One of the major reason is that some people have sugar tooth. Their craving for it makes t They have developed a habit of comsuming sugary products in large quantities. Most of the people enjoy eating it. Even increasing the price of high level sugary food and drink might not obstain people from consuming it. For instance, a person who regularly drinks sugary soft drinks may continue purchasing them despite a price increase because they are accustomed to doing so.

Secondly, increasing the price of sugary products could disproportionately affect people on lower incomes. Wealthier consumers may be able to afford more expensive food and drinks without changing their consumption, whereas low-income families may have to spend a greater proportion of their income on everyday necessities. Moreover, not all expensive foods are necessarily unhealthy, and consumers should be able to make their own choices about what they eat.

Instead of increasing prices, governments should focus on educating people about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption. Schools and public health campaigns could provide information about healthy diets and encourage people to choose foods with lower sugar content. In addition, manufacturers could be required to provide clearer nutritional information on food packaging, allowing consumers to make more informed decisions.

In conclusion, I disagree that sugary products should be made more expensive. This policy may not significantly change people's consumption habits and could create financial difficulties for lower-income consumers. Education and clearer nutritional information would be more appropriate ways to encourage healthier eating habits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position throughout against the proposed tax on sugary products. It meets the requirements of a Band 6 and touches upon the higher criteria by extending ideas, such as discussing the socioeconomic impact on low-income families and suggesting alternative solutions like education. However, some ideas remain under-developed or briefly stated, preventing a higher band. For example, the argument that people have a 'sugar tooth' and will continue buying despite price hikes is introduced but lacks deep elaboration or strong supporting evidence beyond a simple soft drink example. To reach the next level, every main argument should be fully elaborated with deeper analysis or wider-ranging examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, moving logically from the writer's stance and immediate counter-arguments regarding consumption habits, to financial fairness, and finally to alternative solutions like education and labeling. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Secondly', 'Moreover', and 'In addition', showing elements of Band 7 organization. Nevertheless, cohesion is at times slightly mechanical or repetitive, and referencing in places is not entirely smooth, such as the sudden shift into the discussion on low-income consumers. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, but logical progression between paragraphs could be tightened to achieve a higher band.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully communicating the writer's ideas. The student attempts some less common lexical items and phrases, such as 'disproportionately affect', 'everyday necessities', and 'nutritional information', which aligns well with the expectations of this level. However, there are notable word choice and collocation inaccuracies that prevent a higher score, such as 'sugar tooth' (instead of 'sweet tooth'), 'comsuming' (a spelling error), and 'obstain' (instead of 'abstain' or 'deter'). These errors do not impede communication, but they highlight the limitations in lexical precision and word form control characteristic of this band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures such as conditional concepts and relative clauses effectively. There are several error-free sentences, alongside some persistent grammatical and punctuation errors. For instance, there is a missing comma and minor fragment issue in 'However I totally disagree', a spelling and typographical breakdown in 'makes t They have developed', and a subject-verb agreement or article slip in 'One of the major reason is' (should be reasons). Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication and the meaning remains clear throughout, reflecting a solid blend of simple and complex structures.

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