Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23
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 5.0)
In recent years, vitamins and healthy diet has become widely discussed issue. People want to become healthier and want to shift on healthy diet too and also want to avoid medication as much as they can. doctors tell us that we can get all the vitamins we need from having a healthy diet, instead of taking vitamin pills.
In my point of view, people spent a lot of money on vitamin pills, because of their lifestyle, they don't get enough time to prepare their meals, so they prefer to complete their nutrients by taking vitamins.
In my perspective, I don't think taking only vitamin pills can fulfill the nutrients our body need. As we work a lot in our daily routine, sometimes we even don't have time for completing our daily chores, such as I worked in a hospital, and I have to be at work even for the 24 hours as well and I don't get time to eat, or even to do my daily chores, so I prefer to take vitamin pills so that I can cope with vitamin deficiency.
In my opinion, people should not compromise on their health and take time for their meals so that they can stay healthy. Also, they can add fruits and vegetables in their diet to balance out the deficiency.
In conclusion, I would say people should focus on their health more and eat healthy meals instead of taking vitamin pills, because healthy diet can help you in long run, but taking vitamin pills can be temporary benefical but not for the long run.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the task, explaining why people spend money on vitamin pills (lack of time due to busy lifestyles) and suggesting how they could improve their diet instead. However, the second prompt regarding persuasion is only partially addressed; the writer focuses more on personal opinion ('people should not compromise on their health') rather than discussing effective methods to persuade the wider public. Ideas are somewhat repetitive, particularly regarding time constraints and busy schedules, as seen when the writer states 'they don't get enough time to prepare their meals' and later repeats 'sometimes we even don't have time for completing our daily chores'. While a clear position is established, the development remains somewhat limited and could be extended with more specific examples of dietary persuasion.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay displays a basic overall arrangement with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, paragraphing is poorly handled; paragraphs are overly fragmented, and the central ideas lack clear logical progression. Cohesive devices are used mechanically or repetitively (e.g., starting multiple sentences with 'In my point of view', 'In my perspective', 'In my opinion', and 'In conclusion'). Reference pronouns are occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences is disjointed. While the reader can follow the general train of thought, the structural framework requires more sophisticated transition signals and better unified paragraphing to achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The lexical resource is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. The student uses repetitive vocabulary, such as 'healthy diet', 'vitamin pills', 'time', and 'health' multiple times across short sentences. There are also noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'shift on healthy diet', 'complete their nutrients', and 'temporary benefical'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success, and spelling mistakes like 'benefical' detract from the overall impression. The vocabulary allows the writer to convey simple ideas, but lacks flexibility.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writing features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, though attempts at complexity frequently result in grammatical errors. Examples of inaccurate structures include subject-verb agreement issues ('vitamins and healthy diet has become') and awkward phrasing ('even for the 24 hours as well'). Punctuation is also weak, with run-on sentences joined by commas instead of proper conjunctions or full stops, such as in the opening paragraph. While simple sentences are generally understandable, frequent errors in grammar and tense consistency can cause minor strain for the reader, placing the response firmly in the Band 5 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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