Sugar Taxes and Obesity
A complete IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 question with a model answer of 303 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.
Some people believe that governments should impose a tax on sugary drinks in order to reduce obesity. Others argue that this unfairly restricts personal choice and harms low-income consumers most. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- 01Discuss both sides in separate body paragraphs before stating your personal opinion
- 02Use concrete examples — name real policies such as the UK soft drinks levy
- 03Address the fairness concern explicitly rather than ignoring it
- 04Use policy and health vocabulary: 'regressive', 'ring-fenced', 'paternalistic', 'reformulate'
- 05Offer a nuanced position rather than an absolute yes or no
- 06Reinforce your opinion clearly in both the introduction and conclusion
Model answer
303 words in 5 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
As obesity rates climb worldwide, several governments have introduced taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages in the hope of nudging citizens toward healthier choices. Supporters frame this as a public-health necessity, while opponents see it as a regressive intrusion into personal freedom. In my view, well-designed sugar taxes are justified when the revenue they raise is reinvested in health and education.
Those who support sugar taxes point to mounting medical and economic evidence. Excessive sugar consumption is closely linked to type 2 diabetes, dental disease, and cardiovascular conditions, all of which place enormous strain on public health systems. By raising prices on the most harmful drinks, governments can discourage consumption, particularly among children, and signal that these products carry hidden costs. The United Kingdom's soft drinks levy, for instance, prompted major manufacturers to reformulate their recipes within months, significantly reducing the sugar content of mainstream brands without much consumer resistance.
Critics, however, argue that such taxes are paternalistic and regressive. They contend that individuals should be free to make their own dietary decisions, and that taxes on cheap, popular products disproportionately affect low-income households who spend a larger share of their income on food and drink. From this perspective, a sugar tax can feel like a punishment for being poor rather than a meaningful health intervention.
In my opinion, both concerns can be reconciled through careful policy design. If the revenue from sugar taxes is ring-fenced for school sports, free fruit programmes, and obesity-treatment services in deprived areas, the burden on lower-income consumers is offset by tangible benefits. Combined with clear labelling and public education, a modest levy becomes a tool of public health rather than an attack on choice.
In conclusion, while concerns about fairness deserve attention, a well-targeted sugar tax can reduce harm and is a justified part of any serious anti-obesity strategy.
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 69 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
12 more than the median answer for this task type
10 words at the shortest, 36 at the longest
1 fewer than the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 21.6 words and vary by 7.1 words either side of that, running from 10 words to 36. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 8 of the 14 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
5 in total, spread across 3 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
however, while
for instance
in conclusion
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 85 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 75 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 2 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Response
Address both views fully, present a clear and reasoned personal opinion, and support arguments with examples.
Coherence & Cohesion
Use a clear structure with effective topic sentences and cohesive devices between paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
Use precise vocabulary relating to public health, taxation, and policy, including less common items.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Demonstrate accurate use of complex structures including conditionals, passives, and concession clauses.
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