Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that the best way to discourage smoking is to make smoking illegal in public places. Other people say that this is not enough and that other measures are needed.

Discuss both these views, and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Some individuals recommend that smoking be banned in public places, which will discourage people from smoking. In contrast to others, who feel that stricter means are required to reduce smoking. I concur with the latter that stricter means are required, if we have to meaningfully reduce smoking.

First and foremost, I agree that smoking should be banned from smoking places, not only to discourage smoking but also to reduce passive smoking and to counter air pollution. Over and above that, the penalty should be so high, that people think twice before smoking in public. Secondly, I would say that more stricter methods are needed like increment in taxes on tobacco products. Also, the manufacturing of Tobacco needs to be diminished, which in turn will reduce the supply and availability. Another way could be, to run campaigns about awareness of health hazards associated with smoking. Consequently, these measures should reduce and discourage smoking, if implemented with rigour.

Personally, I have seen friends who are not bothered if smoking is banned in public. They would find alternate ways to smoke and be oblivious to the health hazards. Though, it will affect them if the cigarettes are costlier or they have to go an extra mile to get it due to low availability.

To conclude, I would say that smoking should be banned from public places and other measures should be implemented to increase awareness and counter smoking. Surveys should be conducted at a regular cadence, to monitor if there is an impact of these policies, otherwise corrective measures should be taken to further improve the policies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the second paragraph introduces several relevant points—such as taxation and manufacturing limits—these are listed rather than fully explored or supported with detailed reasoning. The personal example provided in the third paragraph is relevant but lacks depth. To reach a higher band, you should focus on expanding one or two key arguments with more substantial evidence or logical consequences, rather than providing a broad list of suggestions. The position is consistent throughout, but the depth of analysis is limited.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost,' 'Over and above that,' and 'To conclude' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. For instance, the sentence 'In contrast to others, who feel that stricter means are required' is a sentence fragment that disrupts the flow. Additionally, the referencing in the third paragraph is clear, but the overall progression between ideas could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring all sentences are complete would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'meaningfully reduce,' 'oblivious,' and 'rigour.' There are some instances of slightly unnatural collocation, such as 'smoking places' instead of 'public areas' or 'increment in taxes' instead of 'tax increases.' While you attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary, some choices are slightly imprecise. The range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but to achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more precise collocations and idiomatic expressions that sound more natural in an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as the sentence fragment in the introduction and the comparative error 'more stricter methods' (which is a double comparative). You also have some punctuation issues, such as unnecessary commas after 'high' and 'could be.' While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on avoiding double comparatives and ensuring that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly to maintain grammatical accuracy.

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