Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-13
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)
Smoking causes serious health concerns. Some people think that it should be banned, while others argue that it should be individuals' decision to smoke or avoid. In this essay, i will discuss both sides before presenting my opinion in favor of prohibition of smoking.
On one hand, proponents believe that smoking should be make illegal by the authorities as it leads to serious illnesses like cancer, respiratory disorders, and oral diseases. it does not only affects the individuals who are suffering with such conditions but also increases disease burden worldwide. In addition, smoking also impacts the health of the people who are living or working with smokers. Several studies showed that the passive smokers' can develop serious respiratory diseases because they also inhale smoke indirectly from the surroundings.
On the other hand, advocates of individualism argue that it should be solely choice of individuals to make decision about their health. They think that it helps people to get distract from problems they are facing, give them pleasure, and happiness for at least a while. For instance, people suffering with anxiety issues, smoke when they feel depressed. It allows them to get rid of negative thoughts for a short time and feel relaxed.
In my opinion, government should make it illegal as it leads to critical health challenges, which negatively affect lives of smoking individuals as well as their loved ones. It has been widely observed that smokers often suffered with oral cancers, which is a deadly disease. In addition, it also causes environmental pollution as exhaled smoke go into the environment, serves as pollutants, and inhaled by other individuals casing respiratory diseases.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, presenting a clear position in favor of banning smoking. The ideas are relevant, covering health risks to the individual and the community, as well as the counter-argument regarding personal choice. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument about anxiety is mentioned but not deeply explored, and the conclusion repeats points already made rather than synthesizing them into a more sophisticated final thought. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more nuanced analysis or specific, real-world examples rather than general statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two sides of the argument. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In addition' are used to guide the reader through the text. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be linked more fluidly to improve the overall progression of ideas. The structure is sufficient to follow the argument without difficulty.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including terms like 'proponents,' 'individualism,' 'respiratory disorders,' and 'prohibition.' There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'get distract' (should be 'get distracted') and 'solely choice' (should be 'solely the choice'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the control is not always precise. To improve, focus on more natural collocations and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context. The current range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'should be make illegal' (should be 'made'), 'it does not only affects' (should be 'not only affect'), and 'smokers often suffered' (should be 'suffer'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement, such as 'exhaled smoke go into' (should be 'goes'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic verb forms and subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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