Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-20
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 people believe that the best way to reduce smoking is to make illegal in public places. Others think that this is not enough and that more steps are needed. This will discuss both views.
On the one hand, banning smoking in public places can be a good way to discourage people from smoking. It protects other people from haemful smoke, especially childern and older people. It also make smoking less normal in society. For example, if smoking is not allowed in park, resturants and public transport, smokers may reduce the number of cigarettes they use. The may also think more seriously about quitting smoking.
On the other hand, some people believe that a public smoking ban is not enough. Smoking is a strong habit, so many people may continue to smoke at home or in private places. Governments should also provide useful information about the health problems caused by smoking. They can increase taxes on cigarettes and provide support for people who want to quit. For instance, free advice and support groups can help smokers stop this habit.
In my opining, banning smoking in public places is important, but it should not be the only measure. Governments should use several methods together. Public education, higher cigarette prices and support for smokers can make the ban more effective.
Overall, making smoking illegal in public places can protect people and discourage smoking. However, I believe that other measures are also necessary to reduce smoking in society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is slightly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief and could benefit from more detailed examples or further elaboration to fully meet the requirements of a Band 7. The position is consistent throughout, but the lack of length prevents a more thorough exploration of the complex issue of smoking cessation strategies.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Overall' are used effectively to signal shifts in the argument. However, the flow is occasionally slightly mechanical, and the transition between sentences could be more sophisticated. Overall, the structure is clear and serves the purpose of the task well.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some spelling errors, such as 'haemful' (harmful), 'childern' (children), and 'resturants' (restaurants). While the range is sufficient to discuss the topic, it lacks the variety and precision of less common lexical items that would be required for a higher band. The word choice is functional but rarely demonstrates a sophisticated or flexible command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'make illegal' (missing subject/object), 'make smoking less normal' (should be 'makes'), and 'The may also think' (typo for 'They'). Punctuation is generally correct, but the frequency of minor grammatical slips prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. The majority of sentences are understandable, but the control over complex structures is not yet consistent enough to be considered error-free.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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