Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-11

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 7.5)

Smoking is widely recognised as a major cause of numerous serious health problems, and some people therefore argue that it should be completely prohibited. I largely agree with this view, although I believe that an outright ban would be difficult to implement effectively. Instead, governments should combine strict restrictions with strong measures to discourage people from smoking.

The strongest argument for making smoking illegal is its significant impact on public health. Tobacco consumption is associated with a range of life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory disorders. Moreover, the harmful effects are not limited to smokers themselves. Second-hand smoke can also expose non-smokers to serious health risks, particularly children and people with existing health problems. For example, individuals who regularly live or work around smokers may inhale tobacco smoke despite choosing not to smoke themselves. From this perspective, restricting smoking can be justified as a way of protecting both individuals and society as a whole.

However, a complete ban could create several practical and social problems. Millions of people are addicted to nicotine, meaning that simply making cigarettes illegal would not necessarily cause them to stop smoking. Instead, it could encourage an illegal market in tobacco products, making them more difficult for authorities to regulate. Furthermore, governments would have to devote substantial resources to enforcing such a ban. A more realistic approach would therefore be to impose very high taxes on tobacco, prohibit smoking in public places, restrict advertising and provide accessible programmes to help smokers quit. These measures could reduce tobacco consumption without immediately creating a large illegal market.

In conclusion, I agree that smoking should be subject to much stricter control because of its severe consequences for public health. Nevertheless, I do not believe that an immediate and complete prohibition would be the most effective solution. A combination of strict regulations, higher taxation and effective smoking-cessation programmes would be a more practical way of reducing smoking and protecting the public

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction, acknowledging the health risks while arguing against a total ban in favor of a more nuanced approach. The ideas are well-developed, with the first body paragraph focusing on the health justifications for restriction, and the second body paragraph providing a logical counter-argument regarding the practical difficulties of prohibition. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position. The response is balanced, relevant, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the complexity of the issue, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the arguments for restriction and the practical limitations of a total ban is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'Nevertheless', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is always clear, demonstrating a high level of control over the structure of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which allows for precise expression. Phrases such as 'outright ban', 'life-threatening diseases', 'respiratory disorders', and 'smoking-cessation programmes' show a sophisticated command of the topic. The word choices are accurate and natural, contributing to the overall clarity and academic tone of the essay. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is sufficiently varied to maintain the reader's interest throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'Millions of people are addicted to nicotine, meaning that simply making cigarettes illegal would not necessarily cause them to stop smoking.' The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There is a good mix of simple and complex forms, and your control over verb tenses and modal verbs is consistent. The writing is fluent and error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.