Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-24

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 6.0)

Smoking is a serious health problem around the world. Some people believe that smoking should be banned in public areas. While other argues that more strong preventive measures should be taken to resolve this issue. This essay will discuss both sides before explaining my view.

On the one hand, making smoke illegal in public places is a very effective way. Firstly, people will stop smoking when they are in public. This would help them to reduce the quantity of smoke they do in a day. As a result, their health will be improved which is being affected by regular smoking such as respiratory problems. Secondly, it protects non-smokers from passive smoking. This smoke is also very harmful for health. For example, Canada prohibited smoking in public areas like parks, gardens and resturants, so children and families are safe from second-hand smoke.

On the other hand, there are other measures which should be taken to discourage smoking. To begin with, awareness in public.There should be motivational lectures in schools and colleges to make children aware from early age about the negative consequences of smoke. Besides this, the government should organise smoking campagins in every areas to teach public. Thus, people would become alert and might quit smoking. Moreover, high taxes must be imposed on cigrattes. The government should take initative to put high import and export duties on smokes. For instance, if a regular smoke prices ten dollars, than it must be raised to fifteen dollars. Consequently, even if the supply of smoke continues, people with average salary has to automatically reduce smoking.

To conclude, while forbidden smoke could be a best solution to discourage smoking. I believe that general recognition and taxing heavily measures will resolve long term problems. Thus, society will realize the value of good health by quiting smoke.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both views and give a clear opinion: public smoking restrictions are useful, while awareness campaigns and higher taxes are needed for longer-term change. Relevant support includes protecting non-smokers from second-hand smoke and making cigarettes less affordable. The Canada example also helps illustrate the first view, although the claim that children and families are therefore “safe” is broad and would be stronger with a precise explanation. Some points are less fully developed than others: the benefits of public bans are explained, but the campaign and tax proposals would benefit from clearer detail about how they change behaviour. To strengthen the response further, develop each main reason with a specific consequence or example and make the relationship between the two approaches explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “To conclude” makes the progression easy to follow. Within paragraphs, ideas generally move from a proposal to its expected effect, as in the discussion of taxes and reduced smoking. However, some linking is mechanical, and a few transitions or references are unclear. For example, “Thus” and “Consequently” repeatedly announce results, while “This smoke” could refer more precisely to second-hand smoke. The phrase “awareness in public” also interrupts the flow. Use more varied, precise links and connect each example directly to the point it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “passive smoking,” “negative consequences,” “imposed,” and “second-hand smoke,” so the main ideas are understandable. There are also attempts at more formal expressions, such as “preventive measures” and “long term problems.” However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or repetitive, which limits precision: “quantity of smoke they do,” “regular smoke,” and “supply of smoke” do not express the intended meaning naturally. Several spelling errors, including “resturants,” “campagins,” “cigrattes,” and “initative,” also weaken control. Build a more accurate set of topic phrases for smoking and public policy, and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “health … which is being affected” and a conditional structure in “even if the supply … continues.” Most of the argument remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “Some people … While other argues” creates a sentence fragment and incorrect subject–verb agreement; “people with average salary has” also has agreement and article problems. The sentence beginning “To begin with, awareness in public” is incomplete, and “than it must be raised” uses the wrong form in the comparison. Aim to make each sentence complete, check singular and plural subjects, and use articles consistently. More accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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