Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-14

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)

In many nations, some people believe that governments should allocate huge funds for high-speed railway lines between cities while others argue that authorities should spend money on upgrading current public transportation. In this essay I will discuss both these views and will argue that why states should allot more funds for current physical infrastructure improvement.

On one hand, High-speed rails network will improve productivity of workers and will boost economy. Because, it shrinks traveling time as a result masses will travel from one city to another for work, business , tourism and education etc. So due to short traveling time it will increase effiiciency of workers and their overall earning. For instance, due to huge inter-city networking in different fields there will boost in economy of linked cities as well as of nation as a whole.

On the other hand, others, myself included, argue that upgrade of current public conveyance will reduce public transport congestion and carbon emissions. This transport is used by masses because of its conveniece. On daily basis commuters that use private transport add up to traffic congestion. If public gets improve, it will cut down private trasnport. Apart from this, government needs to work old vehicles that are adding to carbon emissions. So state introduce electric vehicle it will reduce green gouse producing gasses. Thus working on it, will reduce traffic problems and have environmental benefits.

In conclusion, while some believe that construction of high speed rail network should be government priority. However, others argue that more funds need to be spend on current public transit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both sides of the discussion and make your preference for improving existing transport clear in the introduction. The points about faster journeys supporting work and tourism, and better public transport reducing congestion and emissions, are relevant. However, the first view is developed mainly through broad claims about productivity and economic growth, without a specific example or explanation of how the benefits would arise. Your preferred view is somewhat more developed, but the discussion of replacing older vehicles with electric ones is not clearly connected to upgrading public transport. The conclusion also summarises the two positions without restating your own preference. Develop each main point with a clear explanation or example, and state your position consistently in the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. The signposts “On one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the overall arrangement. Within paragraphs, however, progression is sometimes mechanical, with several short claims linked by “Because,” “So,” and “Thus.” Some connections are unclear: “If public gets improve, it will cut down private transport” does not explain precisely how better services would encourage people to stop driving. The conclusion’s “while … However” construction also makes the relationship between the two positions awkward. Use clearer cause-and-effect links, develop each paragraph around one central point, and make references such as “this transport” more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “high-speed railway lines,” “public transportation,” “traffic congestion,” and “carbon emissions,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal wording, such as “allocate” and “productivity.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “current physical infrastructure improvement,” “public conveyance,” and “government needs to work old vehicles.” Spelling errors such as “effiiciency,” “conveniece,” “trasnport,” and “gouse” are noticeable and reduce the impression of control. Aim for precise, natural combinations rather than overly formal substitutes, and proofread spelling carefully. A more consistent range of accurate transport and environmental vocabulary would make the argument clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a conditional structure beginning “If public gets improve” and a reason clause about shorter travel times. However, complex sentences are often not controlled accurately, and some errors make relationships harder to follow. For example, “I will argue that why states should allot” has an incorrect clause structure, while “there will boost in economy” is missing a grammatical subject and article. The sentence beginning “Because, it shrinks traveling time” is also an incomplete sentence, and “government needs to work old vehicles” has an unclear grammatical pattern. Practise forming complete clauses, using accurate verb forms and articles, and checking punctuation around subordinate clauses. More reliable sentence control will help your ideas come across smoothly.

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