Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-07

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)

It is often argued that smoking should be prohibited in public areas. while there are many views regarding this issue, I believe that it should be completely ban by the government. This essay will discuss the issues arise from smoking.

There are several reasons why smoking should be illegal in crowded areas.

This is because the smoke increase pollution and this can be harmful for people. Moreover, a person who smokes very often, it can be dangerous of him and his family also. Anyone should try to leave smoking for the well-being of humanity. Therefore, a chain smoker can distroy his life by his own.

Another important point to consider is that only making the smoking illegal is not beneficial, policy makers should impose high tickets on people who smoke between public. Many people start smoking because of depression and anxiety, so the government should initiate the centers which help people in these situation. Aditionally, smoking should be ban on under 18 years old. New generation starts smoking and think that it looks fashionable but this has initiate many health issues in them. Parents should keep their children away from this bad habit in early ages. Nowadays, many people suffer from liver cancer because of smoking, hospitals are full of young chain smokers. Smoking is life threathening challenge for people and they realised it near death.

In conclusion, although make smoking illegal is good. I believe that it should be completely ban because people are not smoking in public areas but they find many places for it. This is very harmful for all humanity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views: the first body paragraph explains why smoking should be restricted in public, while the next argues that fines, support centres and age limits are also needed. Your position is present, especially in the introduction and conclusion, but it is not fully consistent: you first support a complete ban, then conclude that smoking should be banned because people can smoke elsewhere. The discussion also shifts between banning smoking in public and banning smoking altogether, so the precise policy you support is unclear. Several points, such as the claim about liver cancer and young smokers, are asserted rather than explained or supported. Clarify your position and develop fewer relevant reasons with specific explanation or examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the paragraphs broadly separate the two views. However, progression within paragraphs is often difficult to follow because ideas are added without showing how they connect. For example, the second body paragraph moves from fines to depression, support centres, age restrictions, parents, cancer and hospitals. Linking phrases such as “Moreover,” “Therefore” and “In conclusion” provide some structure, but they sometimes signal relationships that are not clearly established. The opening “while” after a full stop also disrupts the flow. Group related points, use clearer topic sentences, and explain each point before moving to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “pollution,” “depression and anxiety,” “policy makers” and “health issues,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “high tickets,” “smoke between public” and “completely ban.” Spelling errors, including “distroy,” “Aditionally” and “threathening,” also reduce accuracy. Some expressions are vague or overly broad, such as “well-being of humanity” and “bad habit,” where more precise language would strengthen the argument. Build a bank of accurate phrases for public smoking restrictions, enforcement and cessation support, and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a reason clause in “Many people start smoking because of depression and anxiety” and a contrast in the conclusion. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to interpret. Examples include “the smoke increase pollution,” “a person who smokes very often, it can be dangerous of him,” and “although make smoking illegal is good.” These show problems with subject–verb agreement, sentence construction and verb forms. Articles and prepositions also need attention, as in “on under 18 years old.” Practise building complete sentences with one clear subject and verb, then check agreement and clause structure.

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