Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-26

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 7.0)

Nowadays, many countries are face difficulty to choose between new and fast transport or improving the existing transport services. In my opinion, a country should work on improving the existing services rather than building an entire new transport system. However, transport services that are outdated and cannot support the faster system should be removed or completely reconstructed.

Furthermore, having high-speen and more transport options is always beneficial for common public. A faster transport encourages people to use the public transport more often rather than using their private vehicles. This helps them save time and reduce the use of fuels. This can be a beneficial in reducing environmental pollution. This also address the current time fuel shortage problem.

However, it is much better to improve the existing options like buses, metros, subways and trains instead of constructing new transport system. Upgrading the system needs only some parts to be added or rebuild and hence it requires fewer financial resources. In addition, it takes comparatively less time to improve the existing transport services than building the public transport system from scratch.

To conclude, it should be the government's decision as per the need of the time. In my opinion, reconstruction or improvement in existing system is beneficial for common public by all means. There should always be efforts of how latest technologies can be integrated in the existing transport services. Nevertheless, the systems that are incompatible with the newer advancements can be completely dismantled or rebuilt from scratch as per the requirement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the environmental benefits of high-speed rail and the cost-effectiveness of upgrading existing infrastructure. However, the development is somewhat limited; the arguments are stated rather than fully extended with specific examples or deeper analysis. For instance, the mention of 'fuel shortage' is a good point, but it could be expanded to explain how high-speed rail specifically mitigates this compared to other transport modes. The position is consistent throughout, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0, but it lacks the depth of development required for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'In addition' are used to link ideas effectively. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, moving from the benefits of new systems to the advantages of upgrading existing ones. While the paragraphing is appropriate, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow, which aligns well with the Band 7.0 descriptor for logical organization and progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'incompatible' and 'integrated', which show a decent range. However, there are minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'face difficulty to choose' (should be 'face difficulty in choosing') and 'high-speen' (a typo). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band. The vocabulary is functional but not particularly sophisticated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'a beneficial in reducing' (should be 'beneficial for reducing') and 'an entire new transport system' (should be 'an entirely new'). Punctuation is generally accurate, but the frequency of minor grammatical slips prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. The control of grammar is sufficient for communication, but the lack of error-free complex sentences limits the score to a 6.0.

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