Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-13

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

People should never eat meat because raising animals for human consumption is cruel.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Some people argue that people should never eat meat because raising animals for human consumption is cruel. Although animal welfare is an important concern, I disagree with the idea that everyone should completely stop eating meat. In my opinion, meat can be part of a healthy diet, and better farming practices can reduce unnecessary suffering.

One reason why I disagree is that meat provides several important nutrients. Meat is a good source of protein, iron and vitamin B12, which are essential for maintaining good health. Although these nutrients can also be obtained from other foods, some people may find it easier to meet their nutritional needs by including meat in their diet. For example, athletes and people with physically demanding lifestyles may include lean meat in their meals because it is a convenient source of protein.

Another reason is that raising animals for food is not necessarily cruel in every situation. The level of animal welfare depends greatly on how animals are treated and the conditions in which they are raised. Farmers can provide animals with enough space, proper food and veterinary care and use humane methods of transportation and slaughter. For instance, some farms allow animals to live in open areas rather than keeping them in overcrowded conditions. Therefore, instead of completely banning meat consumption, governments should introduce strict regulations to ensure that animals are treated humanely.

In conclusion, I disagree that people should never eat meat simply because animals are raised for human consumption. Meat can provide valuable nutrients, and animal suffering can be reduced through responsible farming practices and stronger animal-welfare regulations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position from the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. Each body paragraph presents a distinct, relevant argument—nutritional necessity and the potential for humane farming—which are well-supported with logical explanations and examples. The ideas are extended sufficiently to meet the requirements of the task. To reach a higher band, you could further develop the counter-argument by briefly acknowledging why some might find the 'cruelty' argument compelling before refuting it, which would demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking and task engagement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Although', 'For example', 'Another reason', and 'Therefore', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking, which contributes to a coherent and well-structured response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'physically demanding lifestyles', 'humane methods of transportation', and 'responsible farming practices' show an ability to use topic-specific language accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations and idiomatic expressions, such as 'ethical implications', 'intensive farming', or 'nutritional profile', to demonstrate a more flexible and nuanced command of the English language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('Although animal welfare is an important concern...') and conditional-like structures ('...instead of completely banning...'). The grammar is generally accurate, and there are frequent error-free sentences throughout the text. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your arguments. While the control is strong, the range of structures is somewhat predictable. Introducing a wider variety of advanced grammatical forms, such as inversion or more complex passive constructions, would further enhance the grammatical range.

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