Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-30

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)

In the present world, the amount of people who smokes on daily basis is alarming. There are alot of ways in which smoking can cause harm to human body. I firmly believe that smoking should be completly banned in social places but that can not be the only measure we should considered.

On one hand, There are some organisations who demands that it should be completly prohibted in public. For example, There is group of people suggesting that there should be hefty fines on smoking in public place which can control a person who smokes in public but on other hand these measures are temporary, we need to find permanent solution for this problem.

Nevertheless, the ban on smoking can help us to decrease but will not help to eliminate it properly. To discard it properly, we need to find the root cause of this habibt. For example, there are some studies suggesting that stress is the major culprit for smoking. In this fast pace life people have less time to spend with their family and most of the time they are living alone which leads to depression.

In conclusion, We need to consider other causes which stems from the root and take proper measures to restrict it entirely. I believe we need to provide support to the person who is trying to quit smoking. There should be fines on smoking in public and goverment should introduce some community programs to help in quitting smoking.

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 limited, and the essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the arguments regarding public bans and root causes like stress are relevant, they lack depth and specific examples. The conclusion attempts to synthesize the points, but the overall development remains superficial. To improve, you should expand on your arguments with more detailed explanations and ensure the essay meets the minimum length requirement to fully develop your points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On one hand,' 'Nevertheless,' and 'In conclusion,' which help guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. Additionally, there are minor issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the awkward phrasing in the second paragraph. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between sentences is smoother and more natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You use some basic errors in word choice, such as 'amount of people' instead of 'number of people' and 'habibt' (spelling error). Phrases like 'fast pace life' and 'major culprit' are used correctly, but there is a lack of sophisticated or less common lexical items. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and ensure correct collocations. Focus on proofreading to eliminate simple spelling mistakes like 'completly' and 'prohibted'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('amount of people who smokes'), missing articles ('in public place'), and punctuation errors. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on mastering basic grammar rules, particularly subject-verb agreement and article usage, and practice constructing more complex sentences with greater accuracy to demonstrate better control over your writing.

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

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