Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In many countries Government have to decide how to spend money on transportation .Some people think it is necessary to spend money on building a new high speed railway lines between cities While other believe the money should spend on maintenance of existing public transport. In this essay we will discuss both views.

On one hand spend money on constructing new high speed railway lines has many advantages. Fast trains allow people travel between cities in less time and making business trips and tourism more convenient. They can reduce number of people travelling by cars or buses that helps lower traffic and pollution . For example fast trains helps people travelling in less time to far cities and also help them enjoying their journey comfortably rather then getting bore in long travel.

On the other hand, Some people believe spending money on improving existing public transport are more convenient for everyone that uses local buses, metros or local trains for reaching to their jobs ,schools and universities. If these services become affordable and comfortable so a number of people will benefits. Rather then spending money on new transport system it will cost less on constructing the existing ones.

In my opinion, Government should give the priority to improving existing public transport. However the high speed railway system will help in long distance travelling but improving public transportation will help people in their daily lives and also if the services of public transportation is affordable then poor people also get benefit to travel .So I believe enhancing public transportation is more essential then constructing new ones.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the benefits of high-speed rail for tourism and the necessity of local transport for daily commuting. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument for high-speed rail could be strengthened with more specific examples or deeper analysis of economic impacts. The conclusion clearly states your position, but the overall development of the arguments remains at a basic level. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed explanations or concrete evidence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. There is a logical progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In my opinion', to signal shifts in the argument. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where transitions between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use topic-specific terms like 'high speed railway', 'public transport', and 'maintenance'. However, there is some repetition of basic words, and some word choices are slightly inaccurate, such as 'getting bore' instead of 'getting bored' and 'benefits' used as a verb where 'benefit' (noun) or 'will benefit' (verb) was intended. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary and ensure correct word forms and collocations are used consistently throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Government have to decide', 'spending money... are more convenient') and article usage. There are also issues with prepositional phrases and verb forms, such as 'spend money on constructing' versus 'spending money on constructing'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and verb tense consistency would significantly improve your accuracy.

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