Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-10

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 these days, I have seen so many individuals are smoking cigratte and taking other drugs which is not good for their health. However, they still smoke.

People who say to reduce or quit the smoking for people's who smoke in the public areas are actually right because when they see the labels or poster on the walls and seeing advertisement so it gives them a threat to not to smoke. As they smoke in the public places, it effects to the environment. Other individuals are also around them especilly pregant women and children which gives them a bad effect of smoking. Media should do more advertisement on that so they can stop smoke.

On the other hand, I believe discouraging smoking in public areas in not enough because some smokers does not care about it. They still smoke as well as take other drugs which harms the environment. Cigrattes should be banned so that no one can buy it or make it more expensive so no one can afford it. Moreover, there should be other ways to stop the smokers to smokes such as government should paste the picture on the cigratte which tells the bad effects of taking cigarttes like cancer, heart disease and lung cancer. Thus, people can think twice to take that smoking again.

To conclude, I think government should banned on cigratte and other drugs especially cannabis and vape because they always start with these things to do more drugs later. Therfore, if we make those changes then definately smokers can quit their smokingin their whole life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and give a clear opinion that public-place restrictions alone are insufficient. The discussion of second-hand smoke affecting children and pregnant women is relevant, and you suggest additional measures such as higher prices, warning images and advertising. However, the first view is not explained precisely: the task concerns making smoking illegal in public places, while your paragraph focuses mainly on posters and media advertising. Some claims, including that smokers move on to “other drugs” and that cannabis and vaping lead to further drug use, are asserted without support and distract from the central issue. Develop each side with a clear reason and a specific example, and keep the conclusion focused on measures to discourage smoking rather than broad claims about other drugs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand,” “Moreover,” and “To conclude” help signal the direction of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the first body paragraph moves from public smoking to posters, environmental effects and media advertising without showing how these points connect to a ban. References such as “that” and “these things” are also vague, and several ideas are repeated, particularly the claim that smoking harms others. Organise each body paragraph around one main point, explain it, and use more precise references to make the links between sentences clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “public places,” “advertisement,” “banned,” “cancer,” and “heart disease,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, especially “smoke,” “smokers,” and “bad effects.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice problems, such as “cigratte,” “pregant,” “effects” where “affects” is intended, and “take that smoking.” These errors sometimes make the message less clear or natural. Build a more precise set of expressions for discussing policy and health, and check spelling carefully. For example, use “second-hand smoke” and “tobacco products” where appropriate rather than repeating general references to smoking.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and subordinate clauses, for example, “because when they see the labels or poster on the walls…” and “because some smokers does not care about it.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and sentence construction occur frequently. Examples include “I have seen so many individuals are smoking,” “some smokers does not care,” “government should banned,” and “people's who smoke.” These patterns can make the reader pause to interpret your meaning. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then combine them with one clear clause using “because,” “although” or “so that.” Pay particular attention to subject–verb agreement and the base form after modal verbs, as in “should ban.”

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.