Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-26
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 5.0)
In this fast-paced era, smoking has become the topic for discussion,there must be some penalties set by the government that includes taxes on cigarette makers and buyers. However few people believe that smoking should be prohibited by making it illegal in public areas, while other few believe that some other steps should be taken. In this essay we are going to discuss both views.
To begin with, that smoking should be banned publicly , this will be beneficial for other nonsmokers who suffers from the smoke . As smoking is injurious to health , it can effect the children and immune compromised persons who sat with smokers or in the envoirment
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 111 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The essay introduces the topic and mentions both views, but it lacks the necessary development, depth, and a clear, sustained opinion. The arguments are severely underdeveloped, and the essay ends abruptly before addressing the second view or providing a conclusion. To improve, you must expand on your ideas with specific examples and ensure all parts of the prompt are covered in detail.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay shows some basic attempts at organization, such as using 'To begin with' to start a paragraph. However, the overall structure is incomplete. The progression of ideas is hindered by the lack of a full essay structure. Cohesive devices are used in a somewhat mechanical way, and the paragraphing is insufficient because the essay is cut off. To improve, focus on creating a clear introduction, distinct body paragraphs for each viewpoint, and a concluding summary, ensuring that ideas flow logically from one to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. While you use some relevant terms like 'prohibited', 'injurious', and 'immune compromised', there are noticeable errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'envoirment' instead of 'environment' and 'effect' used where 'affect' is required. The range is not sufficient to demonstrate flexibility or precision. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of topic-specific vocabulary and focus on accurate spelling and correct word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'who suffers' (should be 'suffer' to agree with 'nonsmokers'), 'who sat with smokers' (tense inconsistency), and punctuation errors like missing spaces after commas. The sentence structure is often fragmented or awkward. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent verb tenses, and correct punctuation to ensure your sentences are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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