Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16
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 6.5)
In modern society, health professionals frequently emphasize that a balanced diet provides all the essential vitamins human bodies require. Despite this guidance, a significant number of individuals invest substantial sums into commercial vitamin supplements. This essay will examine the primary reasons behind this trend and propose effective ways to encourage people to rely on nutritious food instead.
A major reason people spend money on vitamin pills is the pervasive influence of social media marketing and busy modern lifestyles. Fitness influencers and wellness brands frequently promote supplements on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, framing them as quick fixes for energy, immunity, or aesthetic goals. Consuming a pill requires minimal effort compared to planning and preparing balanced meals, making supplements an appealing shortcut for time-poor individuals who fall victim to persuasive online advertising.
To persuade individuals to prioritize diet over supplements, governments and public health organizations should launch targeted educational campaigns and community outreach programs. Public health authorities can host workshops and media campaigns that explain how natural foods deliver nutrients more effectively than synthetic pills. By exposing the profit-driven nature of the supplement industry and teaching simple meal-planning strategies, communities can empower people to meet their nutritional needs through affordable, whole foods.
In conclusion, widespread marketing and convenience drive people to purchase vitamin supplements despite medical advice. However, public awareness campaigns and practical nutrition education can effectively shift consumer focus back toward healthy eating habits.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response fully addresses all parts of the task by explaining why people spend money on vitamin pills (citing modern lifestyles and social media marketing) and suggesting how they could be persuaded to improve their diet (through targeted educational campaigns and community outreach). The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are well-supported with relevant explanations. However, please note the length check: the student's response contains 234 words, which falls short of the mandatory 250-word minimum requirement. As a result, Task Achievement must be penalised for the under-length issue, bringing the score down to a 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay demonstrates a clear overall progression and logical organisation. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: an introduction, reasons for buying supplements, solutions for improving diet, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argument, such as 'Despite this guidance', 'A major reason', and 'To persuade individuals'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, with each body paragraph dealing with a specific prompt question. Referencing is clear throughout, ensuring seamless flow between sentences and ideas, placing this text comfortably in the Band 7 range.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items are employed successfully, such as 'pervasive influence', 'commercial vitamin supplements', 'time-poor individuals', and 'profit-driven nature'. Word choice and collocation are generally accurate, contributing to a natural academic tone. There are no notable spelling or word-formation errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated, it easily satisfies the requirements for a Band 7 score by allowing some precision and stylistic awareness.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The text exhibits a strong mix of complex and simple sentence forms. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses and participle phrases, such as 'making supplements an appealing shortcut for time-poor individuals who fall victim to persuasive online advertising'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled with a high degree of control. Minor slips do not occur frequently, and grammatical structures are managed with accuracy. The control demonstrated over complex syntactic structures clearly aligns with the Band 8 descriptor.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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