This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer from the real IELTS exam about the topic of smoking.

For this one, I’ve written my own sample answer with analysis and provided some vocabulary activities.

A lot of my sample answers tend to be 300 or more words. I think writing 300 words is a good goal and it is possible to fully support your argument with that many words.

But for this one I tried to write it much closer to 250 words – just 260 in fact!

You can also read a high level writing sample (band 7) and my corrections on it for the 4 band descriptors: task achievement, grammar, vocabulary, cohesion and coherence.

You can read here my other writing task 2 samples.

Here are my task 1 sample answers.

Consider supporing my efforts to write these essays but signing up for my exclusive IELTS Ebooks here on Patreon.

Best of luck!

Dave

Click here to read the full pdf corrections of a students sample: IELTS Writing Task 2 Smoking

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer (Smoking)

The best way to prevent people from smoking is to impose high taxes on tobacco products. In this way, people will be less likely to develop a long-term addiction to smoking.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some have suggested that the best method of reducing the number of smokers is for governments to raise taxes. Although there are economic disadvantages, I believe that this will have the greatest impact.

The economic disadvantage of increasing taxes on smoking is that it will hurt the large tobacco industries in countries like the United States. In the USA, Phillip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world, provides thousands of jobs and pays large taxes on its revenue to prop up state and federal budgets. If taxes on tobacco had their desired effect then many people would lose their jobs and budgets would be slashed. This is a sacrifice that many might be willing to accept but that would be nonetheless negative.

Despite the aforementioned drawbacks, raising the cost of smoking is the best way to reduce smoking. A good example of this can be seen in a comparison of countries with little or no tax on tobacco products with those with high taxes. Indonesia famously has a particularly high number of smokers and the main reason for this is that the tobacco lobbies have blocked tax legislation, keeping the price of a pack below a dollar. In many European countries, smoking is on the decline because few can justify paying more than ten dollars for a pack of cigarettes.

In conclusion, although it might have a negative impact on the economy and jobs, raising taxes on tobacco related goods will reduce smoking. If more governments embraced this approach, they would reap future rewards in reduced spending for medicare.

Word count: 260

IELTS Examiner Sample Answer Analysis (Smoking)

1. Some have suggested that the best method of reducing the number of smokers is for governments to raise taxes. 2. Although there are economic disadvantages, I believe that this will have the greatest impact.

1. My first sentence restates what the topic is about. Don’t stress about making this sentence perfect – change some words and get quickly to your next sentence.

2. The next sentence is my opinion. This sentence is opinion though you can write it very quickly. Don’t sit in the middle, have an opinion! You will repeat it again in your conclusion.

1. The economic disadvantage of increasing taxes on smoking is that it will hurt the large tobacco industries in countries like the United States. 2. In the USA, Phillip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world, provides thousands of jobs and pays large taxes on its revenue to prop up state and federal budgets. 3. If taxes on tobacco had their desired effect then many people would lose their jobs and budgets would be slashed. 4. This is a sacrifice that many might be willing to accept but that would be nonetheless negative.

1. My first sentence is the topic sentence for the paragraph that has two parts: the topic (increasing taxes on smoking) and the main idea (will hurt businesses).

2. The second sentence begins my example right away. Don’t waste time – if you are only writing about 250 words you need to get to your example fast to be able to fully develop it.

3. My third sentence continues the example by describing the specific effect.

4. The next sentence concludes the paragraph by saying that this will have a negative effect (though some might not mind).

1. Despite the aforementioned drawbacks, raising the cost of smoking is the best way to reduce smoking. 2. A good example of this can be seen in a comparison of countries with little or no tax on tobacco products with those with high taxes. 3. Indonesia famously has a particularly high number of smokers and the main reason for this is that the tobacco lobbies have blocked tax legislation, keeping the price of a pack below a dollar. 4. In many European countries, smoking is on the decline because few can justify paying more than ten dollars for a pack of cigarettes.

1. My first sentence is another topic sentence with topic (increasing taxes) with the main idea (best way to reduct smoking). Focus on one main idea per paragraph because you don’t have the space or time to develop another main idea.

2. The second sentence introduces my example of countries where smoking is cheap.

3. My third sentence makes the example even more specific by talking about Indonesia. Be as specific as possible!

4. The fourth sentence concludes the paragraph by detailing how countries with higher taxes also see a decline in smoking.

1. In conclusion, although it might have a negative impact on the economy and jobs, raising taxes on tobacco related goods will reduce smoking. 2. If more governments embraced this approach, they would reap future rewards in reduced spending for medicare.

1. My first sentence restates my overall opinion. Be crystal clear – never sit in the middle or be unclear!

2. The final sentence puts forth an extra detail to the paragraph that many examiners will require for at least band 7 for task achievement.

Sample Answer Vocabulary

What do the words below in bold mean? If you’re not sure, try not to use a dictionary – try to figure out the meaning from the whole sentence then check your answers below!

Some have suggested that the best method of reducing the number of smokers is for governments to raise taxes. Although there are economic disadvantages, I believe that this will have the greatest impact.

The economic disadvantage of increasing taxes on smoking is that it will hurt the large tobacco industries in countries like the United States. In the USA, Phillip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world, provides thousands of jobs and pays large taxes on its revenue to prop up state and federal budgets. If taxes on tobacco had their desired effect then many people would lose their jobs and budgets would be slashed. This is a sacrifice that many might be willing to accept but that would be nonetheless negative.

Despite the aforementioned drawbacks, raising the cost of smoking is the best way to reduce smoking. A good example of this can be seen in a comparison of countries with little or no tax on tobacco products with those with high taxes. Indonesia famously has a particularly high number of smokers and the main reason for this is that the tobacco lobbies have blocked tax legislation, keeping the price of a pack below a dollar. In many European countries, smoking is on the decline because few can justify paying more than ten dollars for a pack of cigarettes.

In conclusion, although it might have a negative impact on the economy and jobs, raising taxes on tobacco related goods will reduce smoking. If more governments embraced this approach, they would reap future rewards in reduced spending for medicare.

Answers:

raise: increase

greatest impact: largest effect

industries: businesses

revenue: total money earned

prop up: support

federal budgets: money for the national government to spend

desired effect: intended impact

budgets would be slashed: governments would have to cut spending

sacrifice: reluctantly lose something

nonetheless: despite this

aforementioned drawbacks: disadvantages written about before

particularly: especially

lobbies: groups representing the interests of businesses

blocked tax legislation: stopped taxes from being enacted

pack: box of cigarettes

on the decline: decreasing

justify: rationalise, do because of

reap rewards: get back something good

reduced spending: less money used on

medicare: medical care

Pronunciation

reɪz 

ˈgreɪtɪst ˈɪmpækt. 

ˈɪndəstriz 

ˈrɛvɪnjuː tuː prɒp ʌp 

ˈfɛdərəl ˈbʌʤɪts 

dɪˈzaɪəd ɪˈfɛkt 

ˈbʌʤɪts wʊd biː slæʃt 

ˈsækrɪfaɪs 

ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs 

əˌfɔːˈmɛnʃənd ˈdrɔːbæks 

pəˈtɪkjʊləli 

ˈlɒbiz 

blɒkt tæks ˌlɛʤɪsˈleɪʃən 

pæk 

ɒn ðə dɪˈklaɪn 

ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ 

riːp 

rɪˈwɔːdz 

rɪˈdjuːst ˈspɛndɪŋ 

ˈmɛdɪkeər

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Some have suggested that the best method of reducing the number of smokers is for governments to ____________ taxes. Although there are economic disadvantages, I believe that this will have the ____________.

The economic disadvantage of increasing taxes on smoking is that it will hurt the large tobacco ____________ in countries like the United States. In the USA, Phillip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world, provides thousands of jobs and pays large taxes on its ____________ to ____________  state and ____________. If taxes on tobacco had their ____________ then many people would lose their jobs and ____________. This is a ____________ that many might be willing to accept but that would be ____________ negative.

Despite the ____________, raising the cost of smoking is the best way to reduce smoking. A good example of this can be seen in a comparison of countries with little or no tax on tobacco products with those with high taxes. Indonesia famously has a ____________ high number of smokers and the main reason for this is that the tobacco ____________ have ____________, keeping the price of a ____________ below a dollar. In many European countries, smoking is ____________ because few can ____________ paying more than ten dollars for a pack of cigarettes.

In conclusion, although it might have a negative impact on the economy and jobs, raising taxes on tobacco related goods will reduce smoking. If more governments embraced this approach, they would ____________ future ____________ in ____________ for ____________.

Smoking in Indonesia: