Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-29

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 6.0)

In today's generation, we can observe a drastic incline towards smoking, although it is a personal choice for adults, I believe that it should be completely banned. The following essay will give you an insight into why I believe it should not be so easily accessible.

It is a known fact that smoking causes various types of cancers, and it is also extremely fatal in some cases. The carcinogenic nature of the cigarette, the nicotine usage while it is produced, as well as the cheap filter quality, is a bridge to making your health worsen over time. People tend to get addicted to smoking; over the years, this might result in financial burdens for low-middle-class families who spend most of their money on their daily smoking habits. Not only that, but also the amount of money one requires to receive healthcare after being detected with tumours is quite challenging for most. For example, smokers develop the highest percentage of tumor, develop myocardial infarctions or tend to have lifelong cardiothoracic issues while breathing, sleeping, running, etc.

The presence of nicotine, which leads to addiction, may lead a person to develop mental health issues. Whenever an addict does not smoke, they tend to get restless, agitated and irritated; some might even develop palpitations and sweat profusely. Such symptoms may lead a person to take the wrong steps or commit a crime. Due to such high usage, people also tend to throw cigarette buds in public places, which may lead to litter accumulating on the roads, parks and other public areas.

In conclusion, because it is not yet banned, people tend to undermine it's adverse effects. I believe it would be significant profit to make it illegal to smoke, for the benefit of the present as well as the future generation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt directly, taking a clear and consistent position that smoking should be completely banned. The writer covers both health and financial consequences of smoking, as well as secondary effects such as littering and mental health impacts. Ideas are generally extended and supported, such as when the writer notes that smokers develop high percentages of tumours or cardiothoracic issues. However, the connection between nicotine withdrawal and committing crimes represents a slightly over-generalized and less plausible line of reasoning. Nevertheless, all parts of the prompt are addressed with a clear overarching stance, which aligns the response well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introductory stance to health and financial impacts in the second paragraph, behavioral and environmental consequences in the third, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Not only that, but also', 'For example', and 'In conclusion' are used to connect ideas, though referencing is occasionally slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to structure the argument. The overall logical flow satisfies the requirements for Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, employing terms such as 'carcinogenic nature', 'myocardial infarctions', 'cardiothoracic issues', and 'profusely'. There are occasional awkward word choices or collocations, such as 'nicotine usage while it is produced' and 'a bridge to making your health worsen over time', which slightly detract from natural flow. Additionally, there is a minor punctuation and apostrophe error in the conclusion ('it's adverse effects'). However, the vocabulary used is adequate to convey precise meanings, fitting comfortably within the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and participial constructions like 'Whenever an addict does not smoke, they tend to get restless...' and 'Due to such high usage, people also tend to throw...'. There are some grammatical inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'it should not be so easily accessible' (given the thesis is total banning) and minor awkwardness in subject-verb agreement or preposition use. However, these errors rarely impede communication, and the writer maintains good control over the majority of their complex sentences, earning a solid Band 6.0.

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

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