Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Doctors tell us that we can get all the vitamins we need from having a healthy diet. Despite this advice, some people continue to spend large sums of money on vitamin pills.

Why do you think some people spend a lot of money on vitamin pills?

How could people be persuaded to improve their diet instead of buying vitamin pills?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Doctors often advise people that a balanced diet can provide all the vitamins and nutrients they need. Nevertheless, many people continue to spend considerable amounts of money on vitamin supplements. This is mainly because supplements are convenient and people often believe they can compensate for an unhealthy diet. However, better public education could encourage people to obtain their nutrients from healthy foods instead.

One reason why people spend a lot of money on vitamin pills is that they consider them an easy way to maintain their health. Modern lifestyles can be extremely busy, and some people do not have enough time to plan and prepare balanced meals. Taking a vitamin tablet requires very little effort compared with purchasing fresh ingredients and cooking nutritious food. For example, a person who works long hours may frequently eat fast food and take multivitamins because they believe these supplements can make up for the lack of nutrients in their diet. As a result, convenience and the belief that supplements can compensate for poor eating habits may encourage people to spend large amounts of money on vitamin pills.

People could be persuaded to improve their diet by providing them with clear information about the benefits of healthy food and the limitations of vitamin supplements. Many individuals may purchase these products because they mistakenly believe that taking pills provides the same benefits as consuming nutritious food. Governments and health organisations could therefore run public awareness campaigns explaining the importance of a balanced diet and demonstrating how to prepare simple and affordable meals. For instance, schools and workplaces could organise workshops that teach people how to prepare inexpensive meals containing vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other nutritious foods. Consequently, people may realise that healthy eating is both practical and affordable, making them less dependent on vitamin supplements.

In conclusion, people often spend large amounts of money on vitamin pills because they are convenient and are seen as a solution to poor eating habits. Providing better nutritional education and practical guidance on preparing healthy meals could persuade more people to improve their diets instead of relying on supplements.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource7.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.5
Overall7.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly explain the reasons for the popularity of vitamin pills, specifically citing the convenience factor and the misconception that they can offset poor dietary choices. Furthermore, you provide practical and relevant suggestions for how to persuade people to improve their diets, such as public awareness campaigns and educational workshops. The ideas are well-developed and supported with logical examples, such as the mention of busy professionals and school-based initiatives. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and all requirements of the task are met with a clear, focused approach.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Nevertheless', 'For example', 'As a result', and 'Consequently', which help to link sentences and ideas naturally. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main questions of the prompt. The flow of information is coherent, and the relationship between the reasons for buying supplements and the proposed solutions is well-managed throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases such as 'compensate for an unhealthy diet', 'modern lifestyles', 'nutritious food', and 'public awareness campaigns' show a solid command of topic-specific language. The vocabulary is used accurately and helps to convey your ideas with precision. While the range is sufficient and effective, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations to reach the highest band. However, the current level is well-suited for the task, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('if... then' implied) and subordinate clauses ('because they believe these supplements can make up for...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent. You maintain a formal tone suitable for an IELTS task, and the complexity of your sentence construction is sufficient to support your arguments clearly and effectively.

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