Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-24

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 often argued that smoking should be illegal because it can cause serious health problems. While I agree that smoking should be ban and it is extremely harmful and should be strict controlled, I do not believe that a complete ban is the best solution,

One reason why Smoking should be heavily restricted is that is causes many serious health problems. Cigarettes contains harmful substances like tobacco and cannabis that can increase the risk of disease such as lung cancer and heart disease. In addition, smoking can also affect people standing nearby who do not smoke themselves. For example, children who regularly breath cigarette smoke at home may develop respiratory problems. Therefore, governments must have strong reason to control smoking in public places and protect non-smokers.

However, making smoking completely illegal could create other problems. like many adults choose to smoke despite aware of health risks, and banning cigarettes completely can encourage an illegal market. Instead, government could increase taxes on tobacco products, restrict advertising and prohibit smoking in public like in Singapore they have designated places to smoke. This measure could reduce smoking rates while still allowing adult to make their own choices. For instances higher cigarette price may discourage young people from starting the habit.

In Conclusion, I agree that smoking should be strictly prohibited because it can cause serious illnesses and harm other people. However, I do not think that making it completely illegal is necessary. Strong regulations, high taxes and public smoking restriction would be more practical solutions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, presenting a clear position that smoking should be heavily regulated rather than completely banned. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the mention of Singapore's designated smoking areas and the potential for an illegal market. However, the development is somewhat limited; for instance, the argument regarding the illegal market could be expanded with more depth. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with more detailed analysis or evidence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Therefore', 'However', and 'For instance' are used to link ideas effectively. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to enhance the overall flow. Referencing is generally clear, though some minor mechanical errors in sentence structure occasionally affect the flow of ideas. Overall, the essay demonstrates a clear, coherent structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'heavily restricted' and 'designated places'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'should be ban' (should be banned) and 'strict controlled' (strictly controlled). Additionally, the phrase 'breath cigarette smoke' should be 'breathe'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over word forms and collocations to reach a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and word endings, such as 'Cigarettes contains' (Cigarettes contain), 'like many adults choose' (as many adults choose), and 'allowing adult' (allowing adults). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some comma splices and run-on sentences, such as in the introduction. The errors are noticeable but rarely impede the reader's understanding. To improve, the writer should focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of verb tenses.

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

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