Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-14

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 7.0)

Various individuals are of the opinion, that the most effective method of preventing people from smoking is to ban the act in public areas. However others insist it is a less viable solution because smokers would still be able to smoke within the confines of a private space. I strongly agree with that view and believe the most appropriate way to mitigate this issue is through creating awareness of the adverse effects in the human body.

On the one hand, people may be restricted from engaging in this activity publicly, which restrains them from smoking at the particular location. This serves a temporary measure, rather than a permanent fix as these individuals still smoke at home and in private gatherings. Consequently, this defeats the ultimate goal of discouragement. For example, a recent anonymous survey among students in a private Nigerian university, recorded a considerable number of respondents to have been frequently partaking in smoking among the use of other hard drugs, in their hostels and secret areas, despite the fact that these substances are termed as contrabands by the institution. Therefore, this depicts that the creation of restrictions by location, is often a weak solution to this issue.

On the other hand, the provision of detailed and thorough awareness on the devastating consequences on the use of these substances is most likely to establish a lasting positive impact. When members of the society are constantly reminded informed of some of these dangers such as lung cancers, respiratory distress and heart failure, they tend to prioritize their health and heed to the given warnings. For instance, after a documentary was released in South Africa on the effect of cigarette and tobacco on the lifespan of humans, the manufacturing companies recorded a plunge in the number of consistent customers. Ultimately, I support that educating on the negative effects of smoking, produces a better result.

In conclusion,there are different strategies in preventing individuals from smoking. While setting a restriction on where it can be done can be a temporary, quick fix for it, I concur that informing the people of the disadvantages of smoking tends to leave a more lasting impression. Subsequently, dettering individuals from smoking in the long run.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address both views and state a clear position: public-place bans are only a temporary measure, while education is more effective. The two body paragraphs develop these arguments with relevant examples, including smoking in university hostels and the documentary in South Africa. This gives the response a clear, supported line of reasoning. However, the discussion of the case for public bans is relatively brief: you explain that people can smoke privately, but could also acknowledge benefits such as protecting non-smokers from second-hand smoke. The examples are presented as evidence, though their connection to discouraging smoking could be explained more precisely. Developing that opposing view and qualifying the claims would make the response more fully balanced and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion that restates your position. Linking phrases such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” make the progression easy to follow, and the examples are placed alongside the points they support. Some connections are less smooth or precise, however. “This serves a temporary measure” does not link naturally to the preceding point, and “Ultimately” followed by “Subsequently” makes the ending feel repetitive and slightly fragmented. The conclusion’s final sentence is also not a complete sentence. Aim for more natural transitions and ensure each paragraph ends with a complete, clearly connected thought.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a reasonably broad range of vocabulary, including topic-specific terms such as “respiratory distress,” “contrabands,” and “manufacturing companies,” as well as less common choices such as “mitigate” and “devastating consequences.” These help communicate the subject and show some flexibility. At times, though, ambitious wording is not used naturally or precisely: “the act in public areas,” “among the use of other hard drugs,” and “a plunge in the number of consistent customers” are awkward or unclear in context. “Adverse effects in the human body” is also less idiomatic than a direct reference to health effects. Prefer precise, natural collocations over formal-sounding phrases, and check that each word accurately expresses the intended relationship.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including contrast clauses (“While setting a restriction…”) and conditional reasoning (“When members of the society are constantly reminded…”). Most of the argument remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and punctuation issues persist. For example, “Various individuals are of the opinion, that” has an unnecessary comma before the clause, while “This serves a temporary measure” is missing a grammatical element. “When members… are constantly reminded informed” contains an incomplete or duplicated construction, and the conclusion ends with “Subsequently deterring…” as a sentence fragment. Review sentence boundaries, articles, and clause construction, especially when combining several ideas. More consistently complete, accurate sentences would strengthen control.

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