Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-12

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)

To agree or disagree with the statement that smoking should be made illegal ,is a controversial issue nowadays. Smoking has always been debatable .Even though some people think that making smoking illegal is the best way to protect public health ,I believe that strict regulations and education are more effective ways to reduce smoking than making it completely illegal.

On the one hand, many people agree with this statement for a range of reasons. It is remarkable that smoking remains common even with strict regulations in place. The primary reason is that smoking is responsible for many serious diseases, such as lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory illnesses which can shorten people's lives. Furthermore, second hand smoke also affects non-smokers ,especially children and older adults. Therefore, many people believe that making smoking illegal would create a healthier society and reduce the financial burden on healthcare system.

On the other hand, I believe that making smoking completely illegal is not the most effective solution .The primary reason is that a complete ban may encourage illegal cigarette sales making them harder to control. Furthermore, adults should have the freedom to make their own lifestyle choices ,as long as they do not harm others. Instead of banning smoking entirely ,governments should enforce stricter regulations, increase taxes on tobacco products, and educate people about the harmful effects of smoking .Therefore, these measures are likely to reduce smoking more effectively than a complete ban.

In conclusion, although smoking causes serious health problems and should be strictly controlled ,I believe that making it completely illegal is not the best

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that opposes a total ban in favor of regulation. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, such as the mention of illegal markets and personal freedom. However, the conclusion is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence, which prevents a full summary of the argument. While the position is clear throughout the body paragraphs, the lack of a finished conclusion impacts the overall development of the response. To reach a higher band, ensure all sections, including the conclusion, are fully articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with each focusing on a specific aspect of the argument. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the points. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the health risks of smoking to the practical arguments against a total ban. The paragraphing is appropriate, though the abrupt ending of the final paragraph slightly disrupts the overall flow and sense of closure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. You use topic-specific terms like 'respiratory illnesses', 'financial burden', and 'tobacco products' correctly. There is an attempt to use a range of vocabulary, though it remains somewhat standard. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate greater precision. For example, instead of 'making them harder to control', you could use 'exacerbating the issue of illicit trade'. The current range is adequate for a band 6.5-7.0 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are some minor punctuation issues, such as inconsistent spacing before commas (e.g., 'illegal ,is' and 'non-smokers ,especially'). These are minor slips that do not impede communication. The control of grammar is generally good, but to reach a higher band, you should aim for a wider variety of complex structures and ensure absolute precision in punctuation and sentence construction.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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