Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In a number of countries, some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. Others believe the money should be spent on improving existing public transport.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

It is commonly believed by a few individuals that it is necessary to spend large amount of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities, while others argue that the money should be spent on public transport to make more confortable. This essay will discuss both views in depth, however, I personally side with to contruct new railway lines.

On the one hand, some people say that large amount of money should be spend on constrcting new railway lines because in this contemporary world people still have to face difficulties regarding railway lines. Slow railway lines cause many problems, such as people have to wait for hours for passing the train from the line. So, people become late from thier personal works or even jobs. What is more, constructing more railway lines will help to reduce the traffic congestion on roads. By constructing new railway lines it can connect distant cities and other regions, which will help to cover the long distance faster.

On the other hand, public trasports are not well maintained so people think the spend on improving traspotation. Many people still go by the public transpotation rather than personal vehicles because they think public trasports are safer and comfortable, however, some transports are not well for travelling, for instance, seats of some public buses are not comfortable and some vehicles do not have enough seats to sit. Apart from this, people have to carry their laggage in their hands which make their travel difficult. Moreover, it is beneficial for travellers if the money spend on transpotation so that they can travel easily and make their journey more memorable.

In conclusion, although to improve the public traspotation is important, I think constructing new railway lines is more significant because people have to wait for longer hours for trains and when people use more public trains rather than personal vehicles it can also reduce the traffic on the roads.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both proposed uses of the money and state a clear preference for new railway lines in the introduction and conclusion. Relevant points include faster travel between cities and reducing road congestion, while the opposing paragraph gives examples of uncomfortable bus seats and limited seating. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the claim that people wait for hours for a train is unclear, and the benefits of improving existing transport are not weighed against the costs or reach of new lines. Your conclusion repeats the preference but does not resolve this comparison with much support. To strengthen the response, explain each side’s likely impact and give a specific example that supports your position. The 13 words copied from the task prompt were not counted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion, and the main ideas are generally grouped appropriately. Cohesion is sometimes mechanical, however, with repeated transitions such as “Moreover” and repeated references to “people” and “public transport.” Some links between claims are also unclear: the explanation about waiting for a train does not clearly show how new lines would solve the problem, and “Apart from this” introduces a related but loosely connected detail. Use clearer cause-and-effect links and refer back to ideas more precisely, while varying transitions and avoiding repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the main points, including “railway lines,” “traffic congestion,” “public vehicles,” and “travellers.” There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “contemporary world” and “distant cities.” However, spelling errors and inaccurate word forms are frequent and sometimes make the reader pause: examples include “confortable,” “trasports,” “transpotation,” “laggage,” and “constrcting.” Some collocations are unnatural, such as “late from their personal works” and “make their journey more memorable.” Aim for accurate, natural combinations rather than adding formal-sounding words. Proofread spelling carefully and choose precise expressions for delays, comfort, and transport improvements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “while others argue” and a relative clause in “which will help to cover the long distance faster.” These attempts show some range, but control is inconsistent, and errors occur in basic sentence patterns as well as longer structures. For example, “large amount of money should be spend” has an incorrect verb form, while “I personally side with to construct” has an incomplete construction. In “people have to carry their luggage in their hands which make their travel difficult,” the relative clause has an agreement error and needs clearer punctuation. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, verb forms after modal verbs, and sentence boundaries before extending complex sentences.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.