Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-18

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 8.0)

While smoking is widely recognized as a major health hazard, banning it completely presents complex social and economic challenges. Although outlawing tobacco could significantly improve public health, I largely disagree with a total ban because it infringes on personal liberty and would likely drive the tobacco market underground.

On the one hand, prohibition is an effective tool to reduce health burdens. Cigarette consumption is directly linked to life-threatening conditions such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses. Furthermore, secondhand smoke poses serious health risks to non-smokers. If smoking were declared illegal, governments could drastically decrease tobacco-related hospitalizations and lighten the financial strain on national healthcare systems.

On the other hand, enforcing a full ban is impractical and violates personal autonomy. Adults should have the right to make choices regarding their own bodies, provided those actions do not directly harm others. History demonstrates that prohibiting widely consumed substances often fails; banning tobacco would likely give rise to a lucrative black market, leading to increased crime, lower quality control, and substantial loss of tax revenue for governments.

Instead of an outright ban, governments should implement stricter regulatory measures. Expanding public smoking bans, increasing excise taxes to make cigarettes less affordable, and enforcing plain packaging have proven effective in reducing smoking rates without restricting personal freedoms or creating illicit markets.

In conclusion, while smoking undoubtedly causes severe health problems, making it illegal is neither realistic nor ethical. Comprehensive regulation, public awareness campaigns, and high taxation offer a far more sustainable solution to mitigating tobacco's harm.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction, arguing against a total ban while acknowledging the health risks. Each body paragraph provides well-developed arguments: the first explores the health benefits of prohibition, while the second provides a balanced counter-argument regarding personal liberty and the risks of a black market. Your conclusion effectively synthesizes these points and offers a practical alternative. The ideas are relevant, well-supported, and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the topic, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using effective signposting phrases such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Instead of an outright ban'. Cohesive devices are used naturally and accurately throughout the text. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the flow of information is seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, using precise and sophisticated terms such as 'infringes on personal liberty', 'lucrative black market', 'excise taxes', and 'mitigating tobacco's harm'. The word choices are consistently accurate and appropriate for an academic context. There are no noticeable errors in collocation or spelling. The vocabulary is not only sufficient for the task but also shows a high level of control, allowing for nuanced expression of complex ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including conditional sentences ('If smoking were declared illegal...'), participial phrases, and varied sentence lengths. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and syntax is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The use of complex structures is natural and contributes to the sophisticated tone of the writing, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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