Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-13

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 5.0)

Nowadays, different public transports become more common in a growing number of countries which is being used on a daily basis. In most of the countries, several people argue that it is essential to spend large proportion of money on building new railway lines for very fast trains between cities while some others think the money should be spent on improving existing public transport facilities. In this essay, I'll discuss the both point of views.

Some citizens believe that there should be new railway lines for very fast trains which can be operate between different cities in order to help those people or workers who are working in other city. As a result, the distance individuals cover will become short and will be arrive before the office arrival time and can work easily.

On the other hand, Several people have their own opinion that in order to spend a lot of money and time on new railway lines, there should be a proper strategy to improve the existing public transport facilities by maintaing good environment, smooth experience of travelling and also increase the number of trains in different areas where people travel more in public transports rather than in their own vehicles. It can lead in decreasing number of traffic cogestion in that area of the country where the population is very high.

In conclusion, good public transport plays a main part in the country's economy. In my opinion, every country that exist in this world deserves the facility of public transport for the sake of helping different class of people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You introduce both positions and give a relevant reason for each: fast trains could help people travelling between cities, while improving existing services could ease congestion. However, the discussion is brief and the benefits are not sufficiently explained or supported with a specific example. Your own opinion is also not clearly established: the conclusion praises public transport generally but does not directly say whether you favour new high-speed lines or improving current services. The response is 242 words, below the 250-word minimum; the 19 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Develop each view with clearer reasoning and state your preference explicitly, supported by an example, to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is limited: the first body paragraph moves quickly from fast trains to workers arriving on time without explaining the link clearly, and the second contains several points in one long sentence. The conclusion introduces a broad claim about the economy rather than drawing together the two arguments. Use clearer topic sentences, divide connected points into manageable sentences, and make the conclusion reflect the position developed in the essay.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “railway lines,” “public transport facilities,” “population,” and “traffic congestion,” so the subject is generally clear. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “smooth experience of travelling.” However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or awkward, for example “different public transports,” “distance individuals cover will become short,” and “decreasing number of traffic congestion.” Spelling errors such as “maintaining” and “congestion” also affect accuracy. Build a more reliable range of transport-related collocations and check word forms and spelling; this will make your ideas easier to understand and more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “trains which can be operate” and a longer sentence explaining how improved services might reduce congestion. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur in basic agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “which is being used” does not agree clearly with “public transports,” “can be operate” uses the wrong verb form, and “every country that exist” has incorrect subject–verb agreement. The sentence beginning “As a result” also has an unclear construction. Practise accurate clause formation and verb patterns, then proofread for agreement and articles while keeping sentences concise.

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