Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-22

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 8.0)

Doctors often advise people that a balanced and healthy diet can provide all the vitamins and nutrients the human body needs. However, many people still spend a considerable amount of money on vitamin supplements. This is mainly because of busy lifestyles, advertising, and the belief that supplements can provide quick health benefits. There are several ways to encourage people to improve their diets instead.

One major reason people buy vitamin pills is their busy lifestyle. Many people work long hours and do not have enough time to prepare healthy meals. As a result, they may depend on fast food and processed meals, which can be low in essential nutrients. Taking a vitamin tablet seems to be an easy solution. In addition, supplement companies often advertise their products as a simple way to improve energy, immunity, or general health. Such advertising can make people believe that taking pills is more effective than changing their eating habits.

Another reason is that people may not understand the importance of a balanced diet. Some believe that taking a multivitamin can completely replace healthy food. For example, a person who regularly eats fast food may take vitamin tablets because they think this will compensate for their poor diet. However, a healthy diet provides not only vitamins but also protein, fibre, minerals and other nutrients.

People can be persuaded to improve their diet through better education and practical information. Schools, workplaces and governments could provide simple advice about healthy eating and explain the disadvantages of relying too heavily on supplements. For example, public health campaigns could show people how inexpensive and easy it can be to prepare meals containing vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other nutritious foods. Doctors and nutritionists could also encourage patients to make gradual changes rather than depending on supplements.

In conclusion, people spend large amounts of money on vitamin pills mainly because they are convenient and heavily advertised. However, better education, public awareness and practical guidance about healthy food could encourage people to develop healthier eating habits instead of relying on supplements.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. For the first question regarding why people spend money on vitamin pills, the student provides clear and logical reasons, such as busy lifestyles, clever advertising, and a lack of understanding regarding nutritional balance. For the second question regarding how people could be persuaded to improve their diet, the student proposes practical solutions such as better education, public health campaigns, and guidance from healthcare professionals. The position is clear throughout the essay, and the ideas are well supported with relevant examples, such as how fast-food consumers mistakenly believe a multivitamin can compensate for poor food choices. The content is fully developed and well-rounded, matching the Band 8 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay displays a very clear and logical progression of ideas throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct and clear focus: the introduction outlines the scope, body paragraphs one and two explore the reasons for buying vitamins, body paragraph three discusses potential persuasion methods, and the conclusion neatly summarises the main points. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally without being mechanical, as seen with transition phrases like 'As a result', 'In addition', and 'However'. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately, ensuring the reader can easily follow the flow of arguments from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate lexical range for the task, successfully using less common vocabulary with an awareness of style and collocation. Examples of precise vocabulary usage include 'considerable amount of money', 'essential nutrients', 'compensate for their poor diet', and 'relying too heavily on supplements'. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated or rare enough to consistently hit Band 8 levels, it is precise, flexible, and entirely adequate to convey complex ideas clearly. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, with no noticeable errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a strong command of grammatical structures. The student uses a healthy mix of complex and compound sentences, such as 'Many people work long hours and do not have enough time to prepare healthy meals' and 'Some believe that taking a multivitamin can completely replace healthy food.' Punctuation and sentence boundaries are handled with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and any complex structures attempted are controlled well. Minor slips are virtually absent, placing the grammar comfortably within the Band 8 criteria.

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