Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-29

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 7.0)

Smoking is widely recognised as a major threat to public health, not only because of its harmful effects on smokers but also because of the risks it poses to those exposed to second-hand smoke. I strongly agree that smoking should be made illegal, as its serious health consequences, addictive nature and impact on other members of society provide strong justification for such a measure.

First and foremost, smoking has severe consequences for human health, particularly for the respiratory system. Cigarette smoke contains numerous harmful substances that can damage the lungs and increase the risk of serious diseases, including lung cancer and other respiratory conditions. Moreover, the effects are not limited to smokers themselves. People who regularly inhale second-hand smoke, including family members, colleagues and strangers in public places, may also suffer adverse health effects. For example, individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma can be particularly vulnerable to exposure to cigarette smoke.

Another important reason for prohibiting smoking is its highly addictive nature. Nicotine can create dependence, making it extremely difficult for smokers to give up the habit even when they are fully aware of its consequences. Many people also use cigarettes as a way of coping with stress, anxiety or other unpleasant emotions. What may initially appear to be a temporary method of relaxation can therefore develop into a long-term addiction. I have personally seen the consequences of this through the experience of a friend's father, who continued smoking despite knowing that it was damaging his health and eventually died from severe lung damage.

In conclusion, I strongly support making smoking illegal because it poses significant risks to both smokers and the wider population. Although implementing such a ban would undoubtedly be challenging, the serious health consequences and addictive nature of smoking make strong restrictions on its sale and consumption justifiable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have clearly addressed all parts of the prompt, maintaining a consistent position throughout the essay. Your arguments regarding health risks and the addictive nature of nicotine are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of asthma sufferers and the personal anecdote about a friend's father. The introduction clearly states your stance, and the conclusion effectively summarises your main points. To reach a higher band, you could further explore the counter-argument—such as the economic impact or individual liberty—to provide a more balanced and nuanced discussion before refuting it, which would demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised, with a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. The transition between the health impacts and the addictive nature of smoking is smooth. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The use of referencing is generally accurate, ensuring that the flow of information remains consistent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases such as 'widely recognised', 'adverse health effects', and 'justifiable' show a solid command of language. You avoid repetition and use topic-specific terminology like 'respiratory system' and 'dependence' correctly. While the vocabulary is precise and natural, it lacks some of the more sophisticated, less common lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. Focusing on incorporating more nuanced collocations or idiomatic academic expressions would further strengthen this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses and relative clauses, with confidence. For example, the sentence 'What may initially appear to be a temporary method of relaxation can therefore develop into a long-term addiction' is well-constructed and error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a hallmark of a strong performance in this criterion.

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.