Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-22

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 6.5)

In an effort to decrease smoking in the community, it is highly suggested to place a ban on smoking in public areas. Some do believe it to be an effective measure, while others remain sceptical. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I think more measures would be required.

Imposing a ban will cause the general perspective of the society to gradually shift. People will start to look down on the act of smoking. Furthermore, the concept of social smoking will also cease. This is really valuable in limiting possibly new people who develop this habit as influence. Consequently, the decrease in cigarette demand will also cause a decrease in supply. The shop owners will not stock as many cigarettes, making it difficult to obtain and do hence discouraging smoking.

Although this measure will significantly cause significant hurdles for smokers, still some would still go the extra mile because of their addiction. They would start smoking twice as much more at home to overcompensate for lost time. Also, Imposing fines could be more effective . Financial incentives can prove to be a greater demotivating factor. For example when drivers are fined for overspeeding, they take the speed limits more seriously.

In conclusion, making smoking illelgal in public places can be a valueable method to discourage smoking in the community however, some better alternative strategies if incorporated, could possibly yield a better outcome.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The essay addresses the task appropriately by discussing both views on smoking bans and providing an opinion. The introduction introduces the topic clearly and states the intention to discuss both perspectives. However, the supporting arguments could be further developed with specific examples and more structured analysis of the viewpoints. The conclusion summarizes the argument but could better emphasize the recommended additional measures needed to discourage smoking.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

Coherence is present as ideas are logically arranged in paragraphs, with a clear progression. However, there are moments where transitions could be improved. For instance, the transition between discussing the effectiveness of a ban and the mention of fines feels abrupt. More cohesive devices could enhance the flow of arguments. The conclusion somewhat lacks clarity and does not succinctly reiterate the key points discussed in the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The lexical resource shows a reasonable range of vocabulary, but there are instances of imprecise word choices. For example, "sceptical" could be more precisely replaced with "doubtful" in this context. The phrase "significant hurdles" is somewhat vague and could be specified. While the attempt at varied vocabulary is commendable, there are occasional inaccuracies, such as "illegel" which needs correction to "illegal". Overall, improvement in precision and variety of vocabulary would benefit the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

Grammatical range is adequate; sentences are varied in structure. However, there are multiple grammatical errors throughout the essay that detract from clarity, such as "some would still go the extra mile because of their addiction" where the phrase "go the extra mile" may not fit the context perfectly. Also, the structure of some sentences is slightly awkward, e.g., "making it difficult to obtain and do hence discouraging smoking". Attention to subject-verb agreement and sentence clarity is needed for improvement.

Overall feedback

Overall, the essay presents a relevant discussion on the topic with a clear opinion. The main strength lies in the recognition of the necessity for additional measures beyond public smoking bans. However, to improve the overall score, it is essential to enhance the depth of analysis by including more specific examples and developing arguments further. Work on grammatical accuracy and vocabulary precision will also strengthen your writing. Additionally, focus on improving the flow of ideas with better transitions and clearer conclusions to enhance coherence.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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