Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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 4.0)

Doctors advice people that all the vitamins are fullfilled from getting healthy diet. Despite this advice, some individuals continue to spend significant amount of money on vitamin pills. From my perspective, people spend huge amount of money on these supplements because they see it on internet and believe that these are the shortcuts for healthy life. However, there should be several seminars and awareness programmes for individuals to improve their diet instead of buying vitamin tablets.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify a plausible reason for buying supplements: people see them online and regard them as a shortcut to a healthy life. You also suggest seminars and awareness programmes as a way to encourage better eating, so both questions receive a basic response. However, neither idea is explained or supported with an example, and the response does not develop a clear, detailed argument. The authoritative length check confirms that the response is 68 words, 182 words below the 250-word minimum; eight words copied from the prompt were excluded. This severe lack of development is why the task is addressed only minimally. Explain why online claims persuade people and how practical education could change their choices, using relevant examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response has a simple, understandable progression: it restates the issue, gives a reason for buying pills, and then proposes an educational solution. The linking expressions “Despite this advice,” “because,” and “However” help show the relationships between these points. At present, though, the whole answer is one short paragraph, with no clear separation between the two questions or development of supporting points. The contrast introduced by “However” is also not fully explained. Organise the response into an introduction, a paragraph explaining why people buy supplements, a paragraph on how to encourage healthier diets, and a conclusion. Use linking phrases to connect developed ideas rather than relying on a few transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “vitamin pills,” “supplements,” “healthy life,” and “awareness programmes.” These choices make your main points understandable, and “shortcuts” conveys the idea that people expect an easy solution. However, the range is narrow in this brief response, and several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “Doctors advice,” “all the vitamins are fullfilled,” and “significant amount of money.” Aim for more precise collocations and a wider set of topic-specific terms, such as “nutritional needs,” “online health claims,” and “balanced diet.” Check spelling and word forms carefully, especially “fulfilled,” and choose expressions that sound natural in formal writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You form a few complete sentences and attempt to connect ideas using a subordinate clause in “because they see it on internet and believe…”. The main message remains understandable. However, grammatical control is inconsistent: “Doctors advice people” has an incorrect verb form, while “all the vitamins are fullfilled from getting healthy diet” has problems with sentence construction and articles. In “people spend huge amount,” a determiner is also needed. The response relies mostly on simple sentence patterns, so it does not yet demonstrate a broad range of structures. Practise accurate subject–verb forms, articles, and passive constructions, then add controlled complex sentences to explain causes and solutions.

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