Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-01

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Smoking can cause serious illnesses and should be made illegal.

To what extent do you agree?

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

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Smoking causes severe health damage but making it entirely illegal is complicated because of personal freedom and black-market risks.

Health Risks and Public Harm Deadly diseases: Tobacco use triggers lung cancer, heart disease, and severe respiratory issues. Second-hand smoke: Non-smokers face high risks from breathing in air near people who smoke. Public cost: Treating sick patients places a heavy burden on hospitals and society.

Why a Total Ban May Not Work Personal choice: Adults often argue they have a right to choose what to do with their own bodies. Smuggling and crime: Banning alcohol or drugs in the past created illegal markets rather than stopping use. Addiction issues: Nicotine is very strong, and punishing users does not cure their addiction.

A Better Path Forward Strict rules: Governments should keep high taxes, ban public smoking, and stop all cigarette ads. Support systems: Nations must fund easy programs to help people quit safely.

Smoking should be illegal due to its devastating health, environmental, and economic impacts. It is a leading cause of preventable deaths, causing fatal diseases like lung cancer and heart disease. Furthermore, second-hand smoke compromises public safety by harming non-smokers, especially children. This violates the collective right to a healthy environment. Economically, treating tobacco-related illnesses drains billions from public healthcare systems, burdening taxpayers. While individual liberty matters, public safety must take priority. Banning tobacco would protect future generations and reduce healthcare strains. Ultimately, criminalizing smoking is a necessary, life-saving measure for global well-being. So, say no to smoking that can harm your life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of banning smoking. However, the structure is problematic. The inclusion of an outline/bulleted list at the beginning is not appropriate for an IELTS essay and detracts from the formal tone required. While the ideas in the final paragraph are relevant and well-supported, the initial list essentially repeats the content that follows. To improve, you should integrate these points into a cohesive essay structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, rather than providing a summary list. The position is clear, but the presentation style needs to be strictly academic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay suffers from a disjointed structure due to the inclusion of the bulleted list at the start. This disrupts the flow and logical progression of the argument. While the final paragraph uses some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'Ultimately' to link ideas, the overall arrangement is unconventional. Paragraphing is present, but the initial section acts as a summary rather than a functional part of the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that all ideas are developed within full sentences and paragraphs, and use a wider range of cohesive devices to connect your arguments more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms such as 'devastating health impacts,' 'preventable deaths,' and 'compromises public safety.' This is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choice is generally appropriate for the topic. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate a higher level of precision. For example, instead of 'heavy burden,' you could use 'significant strain' or 'considerable pressure.' Overall, the vocabulary is functional and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and the meaning is always clear. There are no major errors that impede communication. You show control over punctuation and sentence construction. To move into the higher bands, aim to use a greater variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'If governments were to implement a total ban, they would need to...') or passive voice constructions to maintain a formal tone. The current level of accuracy is good, but the range of structures could be expanded.

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