Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-24

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 5.5)

Overall, smoking is injurious to health but many people around the globe still smoke as they have made it a part of their life style. Many people around the world are suffering from health related issues because of smoking. In this essay, I will discuss about the measures which are needed to discourage smoking.

On one hand, some people suggests that the only way to discourage smoking is to make it illegal in public places although I beg to differ from this point of view. In my opinion, there are several mandatory steps which needed to be taken including more strict laws from the government, and NGOs should play a vital role in reducing this by conducting seminars. Rehabilitation centres should be in place to help them out. The government should pose heavy taxes on cigarette packs so every person wouldn't be able to buy it. At the same time, strict measures should be taken against a shop owners who sell them to underage kids. Parents needs to keep a check on their children mental health. We are living in a world where it is becoming more of a fashion rather than addiction. As a member of society, we all have some social responsibilities, we can't just sit back by banning it in public places. Hospitals should provide an annual report on number of patients admitted related to smoking issues.

Every year the number of people suffering from lung cancer because of smoking is increasing significantly. We should address this issue otherwise it have a long lasting impact on our society.

I used to smoke a lot once however I quit with the help of rehabilitation centre although it was very difficult for me but I prioritise my health over my addiction. Smoking is killing our youth, and by no means, I tend to agree with the people who are in favour of making it illegal only in public places.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize on the fact that it is the role of parents, teachers, NGOs, and the government to make people aware about the consequences of smoking. I hope that one day we will have a smoking free society. This may sound optimistic but I am hOPEFUL

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you mention that banning smoking in public is insufficient, the discussion of the 'other measures' is a list of suggestions rather than a deep exploration of why these measures are effective. The prompt asks to discuss both views, but the first view (banning in public) is only briefly mentioned and not fully explored in terms of its potential benefits or limitations. To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides of the argument are balanced and that your supporting points are elaborated with more depth and logical reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. For instance, the transition from discussing government taxes to parents monitoring children's mental health feels abrupt. While you use some cohesive devices like 'On one hand' and 'In conclusion', others are used mechanically or incorrectly, such as the use of 'although' in 'although it was very difficult for me but I prioritise...'. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'rehabilitation centres', 'mandatory steps', and 'consequences'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'pose heavy taxes' should be 'impose heavy taxes', and 'keep a check on their children mental health' is slightly unnatural; 'monitor their children's mental health' would be more precise. Additionally, there is some repetition of basic vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure that your word choices are consistently natural and accurate in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'some people suggests' (should be 'suggest') and 'otherwise it have a long lasting impact' (should be 'it has'). There are also punctuation errors and issues with article usage. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and verb tense consistency will help improve your accuracy.

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

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