Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-25

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)

Smoking is a serious public health issue in many countries. Some people believe that banning smoking in many public places is the best way to discourage this habit. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I believe a combination of different approaches is more effective.

On the one hand, making smoking illegal in public places can be an effective way of reduce smoking. Firstly, its protect non-smokers from second hand smoke, which can be harmful to their health. Places each as restaurants, parks, hospital and public transport are used by many people, so a smoking ban can create a cleaner and healthier environment. When people are unable to smoke in common areas, they may gradually reduce the number of cigarettes they consume. For example, many countries have introduced smoking bans in restaurants and workplaces, which has encouraged people to be more careful about where they smoke.

And the other hand, banning smoking in public places alone may not be enough. Smoking is an addictive habit, so simply restricting where people can smoke does not necessarily encourage them to quite. Government should also provide awareness campaigns about the health risks of smoking and educate young people. In addition, smokers could be offered support programmes and help them overcome their addiction. Higher taxes on cigarettes could also discourage people from buying them, particularly young adults.

In conclusion, banning smoking in public places is an crucial step because it protects the public and reduces the visibility of smoking. I believe it should be combined with education, awareness and higher taxes on tobacco products. A combination of these measures would be more effective in reducing smoking in the long term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly discuss both views and provide a personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant, such as the health benefits of bans and the necessity of education and taxation. However, some points could be developed further; for instance, the explanation of how awareness campaigns specifically influence behavior is somewhat brief. Overall, the position is clear and consistent throughout the essay, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Firstly', and 'In addition' to guide the reader. However, there are some minor issues with cohesion, such as the transition 'And the other hand' (which should be 'On the other hand'). Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two distinct viewpoints. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'public health issue', 'addictive habit', and 'awareness campaigns'. There are some word-choice errors, such as 'reduce smoking' (should be 'reducing smoking') and 'quite' (should be 'quit'). Additionally, 'an crucial step' contains a grammatical error regarding the article. While you attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary, these occasional inaccuracies prevent a higher score. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly.

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 'its protect' (should be 'it protects'), 'Places each as' (should be 'Places such as'), and 'Government should' (should be 'Governments should'). While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede communication. You show an attempt at complex structures, but the control over subject-verb agreement and articles is inconsistent. Improving the accuracy of these basic structures would significantly raise your score.

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