Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-10
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 6.0)
It is widely acknowledged that smoking is dangerous to human beings and causes serious illness to their health. While I agree with this view point I also believe that banning smoking products will not fully solve this problem. This essay will discuss reasons why this products should be banned and explain why alternative measures will be more effective.
To begin with, why some individuals from worldwide think smoking should be banned is serious health issues. If individuals are smoking, they are highly likely to suffer from diseases such as cancers and lunge issues. For instance, according to a research, it has been stated that people who are exposed with smoking usually suffer from breath problems, which also causes other serious problems. Hence, it is the best idea to banning it completely as smokers will not be able to get it.
Furthermore, smoking plays a vital role to nations economy. Smoking products are often considered with higher taxes, which makes additional revenue for the government. If it is banned, the government authorities have to face some major loses. In addition, many individuals are chain smokers, who cannot survive without cigarettes. Although having banned on smoking products, they will try to purchase at a higher price from black markets. As a result, it will create huge demand in black market, which negatively affect nation’s economy.
To sum up, although banning can help to solve problem at a certain point, I believe the government should apply strict regulations on consuming these products instead of banning it as it will help to protect nations economy.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position, though the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. You acknowledge the health risks of smoking but argue against a total ban, focusing on economic factors and the potential for black markets. While the arguments are relevant, the explanation of why alternative measures are more effective is quite brief in the conclusion. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph fully explores the implications of your arguments rather than just stating them. For example, the point about the black market is a strong argument that could have been expanded with more detail on the social consequences.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'Furthermore,' and 'To sum up' to guide the reader through your argument. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'why some individuals from worldwide think smoking should be banned is serious health issues.' This makes the progression of ideas feel slightly mechanical. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences connect more naturally would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'widely acknowledged,' 'revenue,' and 'regulations.' However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'exposed with smoking' (should be 'exposed to smoke'), 'lunge issues' (should be 'lung issues'), and 'major loses' (should be 'major losses'). These errors occasionally distract the reader but do not prevent the message from being understood. To improve, focus on learning the specific prepositions and word forms that accompany your key vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'why this products should be banned' (should be 'these products') and 'having banned on smoking products' (should be 'a ban on smoking products'). Additionally, the sentence 'it is the best idea to banning it' is grammatically incorrect. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical consistency will help elevate your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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