Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In recent decades, public health has become an increasingly important concern, particularly as lifestyle choices can have a significant impact on people's physical well-being and healthcare systems. Smoking is widely associated with serious health problems, leading some people to argue that it should be completely prohibited. I largely agree with this view because banning smoking could protect public health and reduce the social and economic consequences of tobacco use.

The first reason why smoking should be made illegal is that it can cause serious illnesses and place a considerable burden on healthcare systems. Regular tobacco consumption is associated with various life-threatening conditions, including lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems. Although individuals are generally responsible for their own lifestyle choices, the treatment of smoking-related illnesses is often supported by public healthcare systems. By prohibiting the sale and use of cigarettes, governments could reduce tobacco consumption and potentially lower the number of people suffering from preventable diseases. For example, young people who are prevented from accessing cigarettes may be less likely to develop a long-term smoking habit.

Another important reason is that smoking can negatively affect people who do not smoke. Exposure to second-hand smoke can be harmful, particularly for children and people with respiratory conditions. A legal ban would therefore protect not only smokers but also their families and members of the public who are exposed to tobacco smoke in shared environments. Furthermore, eliminating tobacco products from the market could reduce the financial costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses and allow governments to allocate more healthcare resources to other areas.

However, a complete ban could encourage an illegal tobacco market, making cigarettes available through unregulated channels. Therefore, governments would need to combine prohibition with effective law enforcement, public education and smoking-cessation programmes.

In conclusion, although banning smoking could create challenges such as illegal trade, I largely agree that it should be made illegal because this would help protect public health, reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and potentially lessen the financial burden of tobacco-related diseases.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear and well-developed position on whether smoking should be made illegal. The introduction clearly states, 'I largely agree with this view,' and this stance is maintained consistently throughout the essay. The student extends and supports relevant ideas well, such as discussing the burden on healthcare systems, protection against second-hand smoke, and the potential counter-argument regarding an illegal tobacco market. For instance, the example that 'young people who are prevented from accessing cigarettes may be less likely to develop a long-term smoking habit' provides sound logical support. Overall, the task is comprehensively answered with well-selected arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response is exceptionally well-organised, demonstrating a clear logical progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting from the introduction of the stance, moving through two well-supported body paragraphs addressing health burdens and second-hand smoke, acknowledging a counter-argument regarding illicit trade, and concluding effectively. Cohesive devices are used naturally and flexibly without being intrusive, as seen in transition phrases such as 'The first reason why', 'Another important reason', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly from one idea to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The lexical resource is strong, displaying a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic essay. The student uses less common lexical items and collocations with good control, such as 'public well-being', 'prohibited', 'preventable diseases', 'respiratory conditions', and 'unregulated channels'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate, and there are only occasional minor inaccuracies. The vocabulary enables the student to convey precise meanings smoothly, fitting comfortably into the Band 7 to 8 descriptor range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring effective use of subordinate clauses, conditional elements, and participial phrases (e.g., 'Although individuals are generally responsible for their own lifestyle choices, the treatment of smoking-related illnesses is often supported by public healthcare systems'). Punctuation is accurate, and grammar errors are virtually non-existent, showcasing strong structural command across simple and complex forms alike.

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