Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-17

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)

It is generally argued that smoking can cause serious health issues for smokers and, as such, should be banned. I agree with this statement. Smoking causes heart problems and is the leading cause of child mortality in Africa.

Smoking causes heart problems for smokers. It has been argued by medical experts globally that smoking impedes respiratory functions in the human body. Smoking items like tobacco, cigar, or cigarettes, prevents the heart from functioning perfectly when the smoke finds its way into a smoker's lungs. For Instance, a study conducted on patients with heart problems at the University Teaching Hospital in Oyo State, Nigeria, shows that 87 per cent of people who develop heart issues in their lifetime have either been active smokers or current smokers. The study further revealed that people who smoke frequently have a higher chance of developing heart issues than their counterparts who rarely smoke. This study therefore shows that smoking is a leading cause of heart issues and should be stopped.

Furthermore, smoking is the leading cause of child mortality in Africa. The African Health Organisation (AHO) study released in 2024 shows that smoking amongst African children is now the leading cause of child death, beating Malaria and Typhoid, which had previously been the joint leading causes of child death in Africa. For this reason, the AHO recommended that an inscription should be placed on all cigarette packs warning smokers of the health challenge associated with smoking. In that regard, all cigarette packs being sold anywhere in Africa now carry the inscription "Smokers are liable to die young" and a very ugly picture of a small child with blisters on his lips. This was done to encourage smokers to quit smoking by emphasising the health risks associated with it.

Therefore, I agree with the statement that smoking causes serious health issues and should be banned. Smoking causes heart problems and is the leading cause of child mortality in Africa.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response presents a clear position throughout, agreeing with the statement that smoking should be made illegal. The writer addresses the prompt by providing two main arguments: the connection between smoking and heart problems, and its impact on child mortality in Africa. These ideas are extended and supported with specific examples, such as the study from the University Teaching Hospital in Oyo State and data attributed to the African Health Organisation. While some of the claims regarding child mortality statistics are factually dubious or over-generalized, the task of presenting and supporting a clear viewpoint is successfully accomplished. Therefore, the response comfortably earns a band 7.0 for fully addressing all parts of the task with a clear position and well-developed supporting ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving from the introduction to the physiological effects of smoking on the heart, then to the broader public health implications in Africa, and finally to a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'Furthermore', 'For Instance', and 'Therefore'. Paragraphing is handled appropriately, with each body paragraph dedicated to a single main theme. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional mechanical transitions keep the text from achieving a higher band. Overall, the structure is solid and easy to follow, meriting a band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision with terms like 'respiratory functions', 'active smokers', and 'public health implications' implied through context. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style, such as 'child mortality' and 'impedes'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, such as 'Smoking items like tobacco, cigar, or cigarettes' instead of 'Tobacco products such as cigars and cigarettes'. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly without impeding communication, securing a solid band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a reasonable command of grammar. Examples of complex structures include '...a study conducted on patients with heart problems at the University Teaching Hospital... shows that 87 per cent of people... have either been active smokers or current smokers.' There are occasional errors in grammar and punctuation, such as tense consistency issues ('have either been active smokers or current smokers' or minor preposition choices), but these errors rarely impede communication and the majority of sentences are constructed correctly. This performance aligns well with the band 6.0 descriptors.

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