Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-20

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 7.5)

Smoking is widely recognised as one of the leading causes of preventable disease and premature death. Although tobacco consumption can have devastating consequences for both smokers and those around them, I do not completely agree that smoking should be made illegal. In my view, governments should impose strict regulations and discourage smoking through taxation, education and restrictions on public consumption rather than introducing an outright ban.

There are several compelling reasons why smoking should be controlled more rigorously. First and foremost, tobacco use is closely associated with serious health conditions, including lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory disorders. Smokers not only place a considerable burden on public healthcare systems but may also reduce their own quality and length of life. Furthermore, passive smoking can expose non-smokers, including children, to harmful substances. For example, children who regularly inhale second-hand smoke may be more vulnerable to respiratory problems. Consequently, governments have a legitimate responsibility to protect the public from the harmful effects of tobacco.

However, making smoking completely illegal could create a number of unintended consequences. A total prohibition could encourage the development of illegal markets in tobacco products, making them more difficult for authorities to regulate. It could also lead to criminal penalties for individuals who are addicted to nicotine, even though addiction is often a public-health issue rather than simply a matter of personal choice. Instead, governments can adopt measures that substantially reduce smoking without criminalising smokers. Increasing tobacco prices through taxation, prohibiting smoking in enclosed public spaces, restricting advertising and providing accessible cessation programmes are examples of policies that can discourage consumption while allowing individuals to seek help.

In addition, education can play a crucial role in reducing smoking rates over the long term. If young people are clearly informed about the health and financial consequences of tobacco use, they may be less likely to begin smoking in the first place. For instance, schools can incorporate tobacco-awareness programmes into health education, while governments can use prominent health warnings on cigarette packaging.

In conclusion, although smoking causes serious illnesses and should be subject to strict government control, I do not believe that making it completely illegal is the most appropriate solution. A combination of higher taxes, public-smoking restrictions, education and effective support for quitting wou

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a well-developed position on whether smoking should be made illegal. The writer introduces a clear, nuanced stance in the introduction: agreeing that smoking causes severe harm, but disagreeing with a total ban in favor of strict regulation, taxation, and education. Main body paragraphs are effectively used to explore both sides. For instance, the second paragraph acknowledges valid arguments for controlling tobacco due to health burdens and passive smoking. The third and fourth paragraphs thoughtfully explore unintended consequences of an outright ban, such as illegal markets, while offering viable alternatives like taxation and awareness programmes. Ideas are well-supported with relevant examples, such as children inhaling second-hand smoke and school health education. The task is handled thoroughly, meeting the Band 8 descriptor criteria for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme. For example, the transition from discussing the health risks of smoking to the counter-argument regarding prohibition is managed smoothly using appropriate cohesive markers such as 'However' and 'In addition'. Cohesive devices are used flexibly without being overly mechanical, as seen in phrases like 'First and foremost' and 'Consequently'. Furthermore, paragraphing is utilised skillfully and appropriately, separating the introduction, specific supporting points, counter-arguments, educational measures, and the truncated conclusion cleanly.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student displays a wide and flexible lexical range that allows for precision in discussing a complex social and health issue. Less common and appropriate vocabulary items are skillfully integrated throughout the essay, including phrases like 'preventable disease', 'devastating consequences', 'unintended consequences', 'outright ban', and 'cessation programmes'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate and natural, contributing to a fluent reading experience. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but these do not impede communication or detract from the sophisticated register maintained across the response, aligning well with the Band 7.5 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with good control and accuracy. The writer successfully employs conditional and subordinate clauses, such as 'Although tobacco consumption can have devastating consequences...' and 'If young people are clearly informed...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. While the conclusion trails off slightly before completion, the grammatical structures leading up to it remain sound, demonstrating a high level of syntactic flexibility. The control of grammar places this response comfortably in the Band 8 category.

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