Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-07-30

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 7.5)

In multiple countries efficient and fast means of public transportation is a topic of debate. While some say that new and faster railways systems should be constructed to travel between different cities, others argue that the same financial capital should be used to make improvements in already established transportation systems. This essay will discuss both views before giving my opinion.

Many people believe that new railway lines should be constructed which integrate technological developments so travelling between cities can be faster. Proponents of this view argue that existing railway lines were not properly planned. Many railway tracks often intercept at a certain point. In order to avoid collision a train might have to wait several hours before another one passes through the same track; this can be extremely inefficient as it can cause delays. The solution is to construct new railway systems that are aligned with efficient and sustainable designs, proper planning, cover a larger geographical area. For example, the government of Japan has recently invested large sums of money into constructing underground railway systems which have massively helped public in travelling between different cities.

However, critics of this view believe that a better alternative is to invest money to upgrade existing public transport. These people argue that constructing better roads, better implementation of traffic laws, cheaper and efficient existing means of transportation would make travelling easier and would be financially cheaper. The primary reason is that constructing new railways takes years to build and requires an overwhelming amount of manual labour. Comparatively, making quick improvements in already established and operating public transportation is a better alternative. Another key justification for this stance is public trust in existing transportation. Common people are less likely to trust a newer transportation system compared to those which they have already been using.

Conclusively, while some people think investing in new railway lives would make travelling faster and efficient, contendors of this view argue that making improvements in already constructed transportation means is financially cheaper and more likely to be accepted by public. I firmly believe that constructing new railway lines is a better option because newer technological techniques cannot always be integrated into already established ones. Existing transportation means contribute vastly to environmental pollution as well, this is why switching to up-to-date and modern methods seems to be a better alternative.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the task. You have discussed both views and clearly stated your own opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the discussion on infrastructure planning and the economic benefits of upgrading existing systems. However, the development of the argument could be more nuanced; for instance, the example regarding Japan is a bit vague, as it conflates underground systems with high-speed rail. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more precisely aligned with the specific topic of 'high-speed intercity rail' versus 'existing public transport'. Overall, the position is clear and maintained throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'The primary reason is', and 'Conclusively' to link your arguments effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. For example, the link between the final paragraph's conclusion and your personal opinion could be more seamlessly integrated. Overall, the structure is clear and supports the reader's understanding of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some flexibility. Phrases like 'financial capital', 'technological developments', and 'overwhelming amount of manual labour' are used appropriately. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'contendors' (should be 'proponents' or 'advocates') and 'railway lives' (likely a typo for 'lines'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, there is room for more precise collocations to elevate the tone. The vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication, but further variety would enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, and your control of grammar is generally good. However, there are some persistent errors, such as subject-verb agreement ('efficient and fast means... is a topic') and minor punctuation issues. Additionally, some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'proper planning, cover a larger geographical area', which lacks a conjunction or proper structure. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching the higher bands where a wider range of error-free complex structures is expected.

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