Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some societies, obesity is regarded as a major problem. Some people believe that junk food advertising is largely to blame for this problem and should be banned. However, others feel that junk food advertising does not contribute to the problem of obesity and should not be banned.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience·and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence. Write at least 250 words.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Obesity has become a serious problem in many societies. Some people believe that junk food advertising is one of the main reasons for this problem and should be banned, while others disagree with this idea. In my opinion, junk food advertisements can encourage people to eat unhealthy food, but banning them completely may not be the best solution.

On the one hand, some people believe that junk food advertising is responsible for increasing obesity. One reason is that advertisements can make unhealthy food look attractive, especially to children and young people. For example, colourful advertisements and famous people can encourage children to buy burgers, chocolates and soft drinks. As a result, they may eat these foods more often and gain weight. Therefore, supporters of this view believe that restricting junk food advertisements could help reduce obesity.

On the other hand, other people argue that advertising is not the main cause of obesity. They believe that people become overweight for many different reasons, such as lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits and busy lifestyles. For instance, a person may see an advertisement for fast food but choose not to buy it. Therefore, individuals should also be responsible for their own food choices. From this point of view, completely banning junk food advertisements may be unnecessary.

In my opinion, I believe that junk food advertising does have an influence on people's eating habits, particularly children. However, I do not think that a complete ban is necessary. Governments could place restrictions on advertisements aimed at children and provide more information about healthy eating. In conclusion, junk food advertising can contribute to obesity, but it is not the only cause. A combination of advertising restrictions, healthy diets and regular exercise would be a better solution.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.0
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly present both sides of the argument and provide a personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of children being influenced by colourful advertisements. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, you could further develop your arguments by exploring the counter-arguments in more depth or providing more nuanced evidence regarding the effectiveness of government regulations versus individual responsibility. Overall, the task is well-handled with a clear, logical structure.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you use cohesive devices effectively to link sentences and paragraphs, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore'. The transition between the discussion of the two views and your own opinion is smooth. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The use of referencing is generally accurate, ensuring the reader can follow your argument without difficulty. The flow is natural and coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some flexibility. You use relevant terms like 'unhealthy eating habits', 'restricting', and 'influence'. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the task, it is somewhat functional. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'ubiquitous', 'mitigate', or 'predisposition'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors, and the language used is clear and precise enough to convey your meaning effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay shows a good control of grammar. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'In my opinion, I believe that junk food advertising does have an influence on people's eating habits, particularly children.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. Most of your sentences are error-free, which indicates a high level of control. To improve further, you could experiment with more varied complex structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical flexibility.

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