Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-01

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)

Smoking: Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of Smoking – 100 Words

Some people think smoking has some advantages. Smoking can make a person feel relaxed for a short time. It may reduce stress for a few minutes. Some smokers feel more active after smoking. It can also give them a short break from work. Some people smoke when they meet friends, so it can help them talk with other smokers. Some smokers feel that smoking helps them concentrate for a short time. It may also reduce hunger for a short time. However, these are only temporary feelings. Smoking does not give any real health benefit. Nicotine makes people dependent on cigarettes. Therefore, smoking should not be considered a healthy habit.

Disadvantages of Smoking – 100 Words

Smoking has many serious disadvantages. It is harmful to our health. It can damage the lungs and cause breathing problems. Smoking can cause lung cancer and other diseases. It can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Smoking makes teeth yellow and causes bad breath. It can damage the gums and mouth. Smokers may have less energy and poor physical fitness. Smoking is also addictive because of nicotine. It can waste a lot of money because cigarettes must be bought regularly. Second-hand smoke can also harm family members and other people. Therefore, smoking is a dangerous habit, and it is better to avoid it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to address the prompt effectively. The task asks for an argument regarding whether smoking should be made illegal, but the student provides a balanced list of 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' rather than taking a clear position. Furthermore, the response is under the 250-word minimum, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. The 'advantages' section is largely irrelevant to the core question of legality and lacks the depth required for an academic essay. To improve, you must state a clear opinion in the introduction and support it with well-developed arguments throughout the body paragraphs, ensuring the response meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is structured into two distinct sections, which is not appropriate for an IELTS Task 2 essay. While the ideas within each section are logically grouped, the overall progression is mechanical and lacks a cohesive introduction and conclusion that links the arguments together. The use of cohesive devices is very limited, relying on simple sentence-level transitions like 'However' and 'Therefore'. To reach a higher band, you should use a standard essay structure (Introduction, Body Paragraphs, Conclusion) and employ a wider range of linking words to connect ideas between and within paragraphs more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. The language is repetitive, with phrases like 'for a short time' appearing multiple times. There is little attempt to use less common or academic vocabulary. For example, instead of repeating 'smoking' and 'short time', you could use terms like 'tobacco consumption', 'transient', or 'momentary relief'. To improve, focus on expanding your vocabulary to include topic-specific collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the English language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The grammar is generally accurate, but the range of structures is very limited. The essay consists almost entirely of simple sentences (e.g., 'Smoking can cause lung cancer and other diseases'). There is a lack of complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses, conditional sentences, or passive voice, which are necessary to demonstrate grammatical range. While the errors are infrequent, the simplicity of the writing prevents a higher score. You should practice incorporating complex sentence forms to add variety and sophistication to your writing, ensuring that your grammar supports the development of your arguments.

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