Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-30

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 5.5)

In today's society, smoking is a major concern due to its harmful health effects. Some argue that smoking should be made illegal to prevent serious illnesses. To which I strongly agree with this perception and give reasons for it.

Firstly, smoking is a leading cause of various life-threatening illnesses such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory issues. By making smoking illegal, the number of people affected by these illnesses could be reduced, which would lead to lessening the strain on healthcare system

Moreover, smoking not only harms the individual but also those around them through second hand smoke. Non-smokers, including children and elderly individuals, are at risk of developing health issues due to exposure to second hand smoke. Therefore, banning smoking would not only protect smokers from the harmful effects of tobacco but also safeguard the health of non-smokers.

Furthermore, making smoking illegal could lead to a decrease in the number of new smokers, particularly among the younger population. Thus preventing future generations from falling into the trap of this addictive habit of smoking.

In conclusion, the smoking is much more harmful than it seems to be. As it is not only effecting person who does that but also people around them. Regular smoking damages lungs and organs which could lead to strokes, cancer and many other severe complication. If the smoking is stopped then and made illegal it would prevent harsh condition of health for all including smokers and Non smokers and would also help family as they wont loose any family member.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided relevant arguments regarding health risks, second-hand smoke, and the prevention of new smokers. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument about the healthcare system is mentioned but not fully explored with specific examples or logical consequences. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points by explaining the 'how' and 'why' more thoroughly. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not add new depth to the argument. Overall, the response is relevant and clear, but it lacks the depth of analysis required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' to signal the progression of your argument. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between sentences feels slightly disjointed. While the overall arrangement is coherent, the use of linking words is somewhat repetitive and lacks the flexibility and sophistication expected at higher levels. Improving the variety of transitions and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'life-threatening', 'respiratory issues', and 'safeguard'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'effecting' instead of 'affecting' and 'wont loose' instead of 'won't lose'. Additionally, some phrases are slightly unnatural, such as 'this perception' or 'harsh condition of health'. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, you rely on common expressions and lack the more sophisticated, precise, or idiomatic language required for a higher band score. Focusing on collocations and word forms will help improve this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the healthcare system', 'the smoking') and verb forms ('effecting' vs 'affecting'). Some sentences are also slightly awkward in their construction, such as 'To which I strongly agree with this perception'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, you should focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly to avoid run-on or fragmented structures.

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

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