Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-01

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)

In certain societies, obesity is considered a major issue. Some people argue that unhealthy food advertising has a significant impact on this problem and should therefore be banned. However, others believe that advertising does not contribute significantly to obesity and should not be banned. This essay will discuss both views and give my opinion.

To begin with, some people believe that unhealthy food advertising should be banned because it encourages people, especially children, to eat unhealthy food. The main reason is that advertising companies often target children because they are attracted to colourful advertisements and famous celebrities. As a result, children may develop unhealthy eating habits from an early age, which can eventually lead to obesity and other health problems. Therefore, banning such advertisements could help create a healthier society and reduce pressure on hospitals.

On the other hand, others believe that advertising is not the main cause of obesity because people are responsible for their own food choices. For instance, if a person knows which foods are healthy for them, they can avoid unhealthy products even if they see advertisements for them. In addition, some people believe that governments should build exercise areas in every town because many individuals do not exercise regularly. Providing accessible places for physical activity could encourage people to exercise more often and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

From my perspective, individuals should take responsibility for their health and make sensible decisions about what they eat. However, governments should also encourage healthy lifestyles by providing exercise facilities and educating people about healthy diets. In this way, people can make better choices and reduce the risk of obesity.

To conclude, although unhealthy food advertising may influence people's eating habits, I believe that individuals and governments both have a role to play in tackling obesity. People should choose healthy food and exercise regularly, while governments should provide facilities and promote healthy lifestyles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both sides of the debate regarding junk food advertising and providing a clear personal opinion. The position is maintained throughout the essay. However, some ideas are more fully developed than others, which places the response at this band level. For instance, while the arguments regarding children and advertising are reasonably well explained, the counter-argument introduces a slightly divergent point about governments building exercise areas rather than purely debating the direct impact of advertising itself. To reach a higher level, the ideas would need more consistent extension and deeper exploration without introducing tangential solutions like public exercise infrastructure.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to the two body paragraphs discussing opposing views, the personal perspective, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'From my perspective' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the text is easy to follow. To move to an even higher band, referencing and paragraph transitions could be made even more seamless and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with clear attempts to use less common items such as 'unhealthy eating habits', 'accessible places', and 'maintain a healthy lifestyle'. The meaning is communicated successfully throughout. However, there is some reliance on common phrasing and occasional repetition of words like 'unhealthy food' and 'advertising'. While word choice and spelling are mostly accurate and do not impede communication, a wider variety of precise synonyms and more sophisticated collocations would be needed to achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response shows a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with frequent error-free sentences demonstrating a solid command of grammar and punctuation. Structures such as conditional clauses ('if a person knows which foods are healthy for them, they can avoid...') and subordinate clauses are handled well. Grammar and punctuation errors are rare and do not impede communication at all. To reach the next level, the writer would need to employ an even wider range of complex structures consistently with greater flexibility and a higher proportion of error-free sentences across the entire text.

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