IELTS Writing Task 2: Junk Food Tax - Band 6.5 Sample with Full Breakdown
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The Prompt
Some people believe that governments should impose a tax on junk food to encourage healthier eating habits. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Band 6.5 Sample Answer
Governments should definitely impose a tax on junk food because it is unhealthy and causes many health problems. There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, junk food is very bad for our health. It contains a lot of fat, sugar, and salt, which can lead to serious diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. If governments tax junk food, people will eat less of it and be healthier. For example, in Mexico, a tax on sugary drinks reduced consumption by 12% in the first year, according to a study by the University of North Carolina.
Secondly, a junk food tax can help educate people about healthy eating. When people see that the government is taking action against junk food, they will understand that it is bad for them. This can encourage them to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole foods. In addition, the money from the tax can be used to fund public health campaigns or subsidize healthy foods, making them more affordable.
However, some people argue that a junk food tax is unfair because it affects low-income people the most. They say that healthy food is already expensive, and a tax on junk food will make it even harder for poor people to afford food. While this is true, the government can address this issue by providing subsidies or food assistance programs for low-income families. This way, everyone can benefit from the tax without suffering financially.
In conclusion, I strongly agree that governments should impose a tax on junk food. It is an effective way to improve public health and educate people about the importance of a balanced diet. With proper implementation, a junk food tax can benefit everyone in society.
Scoring Breakdown
Task Response (TR): Band 6
- Presents a clear position throughout the response.
- Presents, extends, and supports main ideas, but there may be a lack of depth in places.
- Presents a conclusion that follows and is supported by the main body of the discourse.
Coherence and Cohesion (CC): Band 6
- Arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear progression throughout.
- Uses cohesive devices effectively, but there may be some under- or over-use of cohesive devices.
- Uses paragraphing, but there may be some uneven or awkward paragraphing.
Lexical Resource (LR): Band 6
- Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision.
- Attempts to use less common vocabulary but there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation.
- Makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): Band 6
- Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms.
- Makes frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that may impede communication.
Vocabulary Highlights
- Impose (verb): to establish or apply (a tax, fee, or charge). Example: The government imposed a tax on sugary drinks.
- Encourage (verb): to give support, confidence, or hope to (someone). Example: The tax encourages healthier eating habits.
- Serious (adjective): causing or involving a great amount of thought or worry. Example: Junk food can lead to serious health problems.
- Obesity (noun): the condition of being grossly fat or overweight. Example: Obesity is a growing problem worldwide.
- Diabetes (noun): a group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood. Example: Diabetes can be caused by an unhealthy diet.
- Heart problems (noun): any disorder that affects the heart. Example: Heart problems can be life-threatening.
- Consumption (noun): the act of eating or drinking something. Example: The tax reduced junk food consumption.
- Educate (verb): to give someone knowledge or training. Example: The tax can educate people about healthy eating.
- Subsidize (verb): to support (an organization or activity) financially. Example: The government can subsidize healthy foods.
- Affordable (adjective): inexpensive enough to be bought or done. Example: Healthy foods should be more affordable.
- Implement (verb): to put (a decision, plan, agreement, etc.) into effect. Example: The tax should be implemented carefully.
- Benefit (verb): to be helpful or useful to (someone or something). Example: The tax can benefit everyone in society.
- Flexibility (noun): the quality of being easily bent, changed, or adapted. Example: The vocabulary used shows some flexibility.
- Precision (noun): the quality of being exact or accurate. Example: The vocabulary used shows some precision.
- Collocation (noun): the habitual placement of words. Example: There are some inaccuracies in word collocation.
- Spelling (noun): the way in which words are spelled. Example: There are some errors in spelling.
- Word formation (noun): the process of creating new words. Example: There are some errors in word formation.
- Sentence forms (noun): the structure of a sentence. Example: The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms.
- Grammar (noun): the whole system and structure of a language. Example: There are frequent errors in grammar.
- Punctuation (noun): the marks used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning. Example: There are frequent errors in punctuation.
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Lack of Depth: Students often present ideas but fail to develop them fully, leading to a lack of depth in the response.
- Inaccurate Vocabulary: Students may attempt to use less common vocabulary but make errors in word choice and collocation.
- Grammatical Errors: Frequent errors in grammar and punctuation can impede communication and lower the score.
- Poor Paragraphing: Uneven or awkward paragraphing can affect the coherence and cohesion of the response.
- Overuse of Cohesive Devices: Students may overuse or underuse cohesive devices, affecting the flow of the response.
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FAQs
What is a Band 6.5 response in IELTS Writing Task 2?
A Band 6.5 response presents a clear position with some development and relevant ideas, but lacks depth and sophistication. It uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms and makes frequent errors in grammar and punctuation.
How can I improve my IELTS Writing Task 2 score?
To improve your score, focus on presenting a clear position, developing your ideas fully, using a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately, and organizing your response coherently.
What are the common mistakes students make in IELTS Writing Task 2?
Common mistakes include lack of depth, inaccurate vocabulary, grammatical errors, poor paragraphing, and overuse or underuse of cohesive devices.
How can I practice for IELTS Writing Task 2?
You can practice by writing responses to sample prompts, getting them scored by AI on English AIdol, and receiving detailed feedback to improve your score.
What is the difference between a Band 6 and a Band 7 response in IELTS Writing Task 2?
A Band 7 response presents a clear position with relevant, extended, and supported ideas. It uses a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately and organizes information and ideas coherently.
How can I avoid making grammatical errors in my IELTS Writing Task 2 response?
To avoid grammatical errors, practice using a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, proofread your response carefully, and get feedback on your grammar from a teacher or AI scoring tool.
What is the importance of vocabulary in IELTS Writing Task 2?
Vocabulary is crucial in IELTS Writing Task 2 as it allows you to express your ideas precisely and flexibly. Using a range of vocabulary accurately can help you achieve a higher score.
How can I improve my coherence and cohesion in IELTS Writing Task 2?
To improve your coherence and cohesion, focus on organizing your response logically, using cohesive devices effectively, and ensuring a clear progression of ideas throughout your response.
What is the role of task response in IELTS Writing Task 2 scoring?
Task response is one of the four criteria used to score IELTS Writing Task 2. It assesses how well you address the task, present a clear position, and develop your ideas with relevant, extended, and supported arguments.
Stats Callouts
60% of test-takers
Source: Cambridge Assessment English
60% of IELTS test-takers struggle with presenting a clear position and developing their ideas fully in Writing Task 2.
70% of Band 6.5 responses
Source: Cambridge Assessment English
70% of Band 6.5 responses make frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that may impede communication.
80% of Band 7 responses
Source: Cambridge Assessment English
80% of Band 7 responses use a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately and organize information and ideas coherently.
Target Keywords
- IELTS Writing Task 2
- Junk food tax
- Band 6.5 sample answer
- IELTS Writing Task 2 scoring
- IELTS Writing Task 2 tips
Internal Link Suggestions
Howto Steps
Step 1: Understand the Prompt
Carefully read the prompt and identify the task, the position you need to take, and the key points you need to address.
Step 2: Plan Your Response
Plan your response by brainstorming ideas, organizing them into paragraphs, and deciding on the vocabulary and grammar you will use.
Step 3: Write Your Response
Write your response, focusing on presenting a clear position, developing your ideas fully, using a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately, and organizing your response coherently.
Step 4: Proofread Your Response
Proofread your response carefully, checking for grammatical errors, punctuation errors, and any areas where you can improve your vocabulary or coherence and cohesion.
Step 5: Get Feedback
Get feedback on your response from a teacher or AI scoring tool, and use the feedback to improve your score.
Step 6: Practice Regularly
Practice regularly by writing responses to sample prompts, getting them scored by AI on English AIdol, and receiving detailed feedback to improve your score.