Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-10

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 8.5)

Smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of disease and premature death worldwide. Given its well-established links to cancer, cardiovascular disease and other serious illnesses, some people argue that smoking should be prohibited altogether. I largely agree that governments should take much stronger action against tobacco, although I believe an immediate and absolute ban would be impractical and potentially counterproductive.

The strongest argument for criminalising smoking is the enormous damage it causes to public health. Tobacco consumption does not merely affect individual smokers; it also places a considerable financial burden on healthcare systems and exposes non-smokers to harmful second-hand smoke. This is particularly concerning in public environments where people, including children, may have little choice but to inhale tobacco fumes. Moreover, tobacco companies have historically marketed their products in ways that can encourage long-term dependence. From this perspective, prohibiting smoking could protect future generations from becoming addicted in the first place.

Nevertheless, a complete ban could create significant unintended consequences. Because nicotine is highly addictive, many established smokers would find it extremely difficult to stop immediately. If tobacco products were prohibited overnight, demand would not necessarily disappear; instead, it could fuel an illegal market in which cigarettes are smuggled and sold without quality controls. This would make regulation more difficult and could also divert substantial resources towards enforcement. Furthermore, in societies where adults are generally permitted to make decisions about their own lifestyles, an outright prohibition could be viewed as an excessive restriction of personal freedom.

In my view, therefore, governments should pursue a highly restrictive approach rather than an immediate total prohibition. Tobacco taxes could be increased substantially, smoking in public places could be prohibited, advertising could be tightly controlled, and plain packaging and prominent health warnings could be made compulsory. At the same time, smokers should be offered accessible support to overcome nicotine dependence. Such measures would reduce tobacco consumption while avoiding the social and economic disruption that an outright ban could produce.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that smoking should be subject to much stricter regulation because of its profound consequences for individuals and society. However, rather than criminalising all smoking immediately, governments should combine stringent restrictions with education and cessation support. This approach is more realistic and is likely to produce a lasting reduction in tobacco use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it consistently throughout the essay. The arguments are well-developed, providing a balanced view by acknowledging the health risks of smoking while also explaining why an outright ban might be impractical. Each paragraph contributes logically to the overall argument, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points. You have provided a nuanced response that goes beyond a simple 'yes' or 'no', demonstrating a high level of critical thinking and task fulfillment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is exceptionally well-organized. Each paragraph has a clear central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow. You have used a wide range of cohesive devices, such as 'Nevertheless', 'Moreover', and 'In my view', which serve to connect your arguments seamlessly. The paragraphing is skillful, with each section transitioning naturally into the next. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words; instead, the flow is natural and sophisticated, which is a hallmark of high-level writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

Your vocabulary is precise, sophisticated, and highly appropriate for an academic essay. You demonstrate a strong command of collocations and topic-specific terminology, such as 'preventable causes', 'financial burden', 'unintended consequences', and 'cessation support'. The use of less common items is natural and accurate, showing a high degree of flexibility. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling. The language used is consistently formal and academic, which perfectly suits the requirements of the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with full flexibility and accuracy. You have successfully employed a variety of sentence types, including conditional structures ('If tobacco products were prohibited...'), participial phrases, and complex noun phrases. Punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity, and there are no grammatical errors throughout the text. The control over tense, aspect, and modality is excellent, allowing you to express nuanced opinions with precision. This is a very strong performance in terms of grammatical range and accuracy.

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