Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-17

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 6.5)

In today's world, eating meat and raising animals for human consumption has become a widely discussed issue. Different people have different opinions regarding this matter because it affects individuals, families, organizations, and society in different ways. This essay will discuss the main aspects of the topic before presenting a balanced conclusion.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why avoiding meat consumption is considered beneficial. Firstly, it can reduce the number of animals raised and killed for food. Secondly, it can encourage people to choose alternative sources of nutrition that do not involve animal suffering. Moreover, this approach can improve overall performance, increase confidence, and create better opportunities in the future. For example, people can obtain protein from foods such as beans, lentils, and other plant-based products instead of meat. As a result, this approach can provide long-term advantages for both individuals and society.

On the other hand, some people believe that consuming meat responsibly offers better outcomes. They argue that meat can provide important nutrients such as protein, iron, and vitamin B12. Furthermore, animals can be raised under higher welfare standards that reduce unnecessary suffering. In addition, this method can solve many practical problems and improve people's quality of life. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of this viewpoint often depends on individual circumstances.

In conclusion, both viewpoints have their own strengths. However, I believe that people should be allowed to consume meat responsibly while supporting better animal welfare because it provides greater overall benefits while addressing the challenges more effectively. Therefore, this approach should be encouraged for a better future, allowing people to enjoy both professional success and personal satisfaction.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both sides of the issue—whether raising animals for meat is cruel and whether people should avoid eating it. The student establishes a clear position in the introduction and concludes with a definitive stance that people should be allowed to consume meat responsibly. Main ideas are presented, such as nutritional benefits and welfare standards on one hand, and animal suffering and alternative nutrition on the other. However, some arguments exhibit a tendency to wander into slightly generic language that lacks direct specificity to the prompt, particularly statements like "this approach can improve overall performance, increase confidence, and create better opportunities in the future" which do not clearly link to a debate about meat consumption. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, placing it firmly at a band 6.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear four-paragraph structure comprising an introduction, two body paragraphs representing opposing views, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," and "In conclusion." Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. However, referencing and logical progression occasionally falter due to the inclusion of somewhat generic stock phrases that disrupt the thematic flow, such as the sudden leap to "professional success and personal satisfaction" in the final sentence. Cohesion is at times mechanical, but the overall arrangement remains coherent, warranting a band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using topic-related terms such as "consumption," "nutrition," "welfare standards," and "plant-based products." There are successful attempts at less common vocabulary phrases like "alternative sources of nutrition" and "individual circumstances." However, some vocabulary choices are repetitive or lack precise contextual collocation, particularly the insertion of phrases like "improve overall performance, increase confidence" which feel imported from a different essay prompt. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate and do not impede communication, supporting a band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and participial modifications such as "while supporting better animal welfare because it provides greater overall benefits." Grammatical control is reasonably good, with many error-free sentences, particularly in the framing and transitional clauses. Punctuation is handled correctly throughout, and subject-verb agreement is maintained. While the range of complex grammar is somewhat restrained and occasionally repetitive in syntactic pattern, the errors are minor and infrequent, allowing for clear and uninterrupted communication. This performance aligns well with the band 7.0 descriptors.

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