Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-18

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)

The idea that people should never eat meat because raising animals for human consumption is cruel is widely debated. While I agree that animal welfare is an important concern, I do not completely agree that everyone should stop eating meat.

One major reason to reduce meat consumption is the treatment of animals in some farming systems. Animals can be kept in confined spaces, transported in stressful conditions and eventually slaughtered for food. For example, chickens raised in intensive farming systems may spend most of their lives in crowded indoor environments with very limited space to move. If consumers reduced their demand for meat, farmers could have less incentive to maintain such large-scale systems. Therefore, reducing meat consumption could contribute to better conditions for animals.

However, completely avoiding meat may not be practical for everyone. Meat provides important nutrients such as protein, iron and vitamin B12. For instance, a person who regularly eats chicken, fish or lean beef can obtain a significant amount of protein from these foods without having to plan every meal carefully. Although plant-based alternatives can provide many of the same nutrients, some people may find them more expensive, less accessible or difficult to include in their daily diet. Meat is also an important part of many cultural traditions. For example, families may serve meat dishes during weddings, festivals and other special occasions.

In my view, a more reasonable solution is to encourage responsible meat consumption rather than asking everyone to eliminate it completely. People could eat smaller portions and have meat less frequently. For example, someone who currently eats meat every day could choose vegetarian meals three or four days a week and purchase meat from farms with stronger animal-welfare standards on the remaining days. Governments could also introduce stricter regulations requiring farms to provide animals with adequate space, food and veterinary care.

In conclusion, I agree that raising animals for food can involve cruelty, particularly in intensive farming systems. Nevertheless, I disagree with the view that people should never eat meat. Reducing consumption, choosing ethically produced meat and enforcing stronger animal-welfare regulations would be a more practical way to address the problem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the task by taking a clear, well-developed position on whether raising animals for food is cruel and whether people should never eat meat. The introduction establishes a balanced view, and body paragraphs thoroughly explore both sides of the argument: animal welfare concerns in intensive farming systems and the practical, nutritional, and cultural arguments for consuming meat. The conclusion successfully synthesises these ideas into a nuanced solution involving responsible consumption and regulation. Ideas are well supported with relevant examples, such as intensive farming conditions and traditional celebrations, demonstrating a high level of task response that fully aligns with the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced, guiding the reader smoothly from the introduction through balanced body paragraphs to a thoughtful conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, such as the discussion of nutritional needs or the proposal for responsible consumption in the fourth paragraph. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively without being overly mechanical, with phrases like 'However', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' managing transitions appropriately. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and contributes to the overall clarity and progression of the essay, meeting the criteria for a strong Band 7.5 or Band 8 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully incorporating less common lexical items such as 'intensive farming systems', 'plant-based alternatives', and 'animal-welfare standards'. Word choice is generally precise and appropriate for an academic discussion on ethics and diet. While the vocabulary is fluent and communicative, it occasionally relies on standard collocation patterns rather than deeply sophisticated phrasing, which places it securely within the Band 7 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex structures, including conditional-like clauses and participial phrases, while maintaining a high level of grammatical accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and control over punctuation and tense consistency is strong. Complex structures such as 'someone who currently eats meat every day could choose vegetarian meals...' and 'Governments could also introduce stricter regulations requiring farms to provide...' are handled with confidence. Only very occasional minor slips occur, easily justifying a Band 8 for grammar.

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