Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09

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 6.0)

In today's world, with the advancement of technology, doctors have cured almost all the diseases of the century. We have substitutes for food as well as for the nutrients and vitamins that we get from food. Therefore, some people opine that we can get all the vitamins only from a healthy diet and should not depend on pills. In this essay, we discuss both viewpoints in upcoming paragraphs.

On the one hand, people buy vitamin supplements to fulfill their need for nutrients that are lacking in their bodies. For instance, elderly people do not eat a proper meal because of their age, as with increasing age, their appetite becomes smaller. Moreover, their protein and vitamin intake is not met with that small proportion of food. Furthermore, countries like Canada are cold, and due to the colder weather, most of the people lack vitamin D. Therefore, to meet their bodies' needs, they have to take Vitamin D. Other than this, people who are pure vegetarian they require vitamin B12, which we can get from meat products, and people who are vegans have to take calcium, as they do not take dairy products.

On the other hand, some people and doctors opine that individuals need to improve their diet rather than buying pills. Children should have a proper diet, and in every meal parents should add a quantity of all the nutrients such as carbs, protein, and fibre so that they do not rely on tablets. People who are entering their 30's, they must include exercise in their schedule. People who are vegetarians should follow diets that meet daily protein and other vital nutrient needs. Such as tofu, paneer, and yogurt.

To recapitulate, in my opinion, people who are above 60 can take some of the vitamin pills to meet their bodies' daily needs, as their diet is less and can not fulfill all the needs; nonetheless, other people can eat fruits and healthy foods so they do not have to depend on the pills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: reasons for supplement use and methods of persuasion. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The first paragraph introduces the topic but incorrectly states that the essay will discuss 'both viewpoints' (the prompt asks for reasons and solutions, not a balanced discussion of two opinions). While the reasons provided (age, climate, dietary restrictions) are relevant, the solutions section is less developed, focusing more on general advice than on how to 'persuade' people. The position is clear, but the overall structure of the argument could be more focused on the specific requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover,' 'Furthermore,' and 'To recapitulate' are used to link sentences and paragraphs. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though the introductory paragraph's claim that the essay will discuss 'both viewpoints' is a cohesive error because the subsequent body paragraphs do not actually follow a 'two-sided' debate structure. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main parts of the prompt.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their ideas clearly. There is some use of topic-specific vocabulary such as 'supplements,' 'nutrients,' and 'dietary restrictions.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'cured almost all the diseases of the century' or 'add a quantity of all the nutrients.' The writer relies on basic collocations and could benefit from more precise, academic vocabulary to reach a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'people who are pure vegetarian they require' (redundant subject) and 'their diet is less and can not fulfill' (incorrect comparative usage). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in comma usage. While the errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The writer demonstrates an attempt at complex structures, but control over these is inconsistent.

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