Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-03
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)
In many countries, few people thought it was compulsory to invest money to build railway lines between cities. Few say spend money to improve existing public transport. In my opinion, building new railway lines in cities is the best way of investing money for the public. This essay will discuss both of them.
To begin with, investing money in railways is a good idea because it connects cities with each other by installing new railway lines. This will make travel shorter and more comfortable. Trains will not face traffic on their route and save their passengers time.
However, spending money on improving existing public transport was not a bad idea, but it will disturb the public for some time. Public transport was also face traffic in their way , some time they did not came in time. public transport is important in cities. it usually used by workers and students because it is not expensive they use it easily, much more taxi also avaible in cities but it has one draw back, it was expensive.
In my opinion, investing money on railways is better then on improving public transport because by connecting cities through railway lines gives many more benefits. It will save money of pepole who travel from one city to another city by paying to taxi. It will also save time because trains will not few any traffic or accidents. they also faster than cars and are more comfortable.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both views and provides a clear opinion. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. The arguments regarding high-speed rail and public transport are somewhat repetitive and lack specific examples or detailed reasoning. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments are underdeveloped, preventing a higher score. The failure to meet the minimum word count is a significant constraint on the overall task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive phrasing and limited use of cohesive devices. While there is an attempt to use transition words like 'To begin with' and 'However', the connections between sentences are often mechanical. The progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph where the discussion of public transport and taxis feels cluttered. Improved use of linking words and clearer topic sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally basic and repetitive. Phrases such as 'investing money' and 'spending money' are used frequently. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'did not came in time' (should be 'did not arrive on time') and 'much more taxi also avaible' (should be 'many more taxis are also available'). The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student struggles to use more precise or academic terminology appropriate for an IELTS Task 2 essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including tense inconsistencies ('few people thought' instead of 'some people think'), subject-verb agreement issues ('public transport was also face traffic'), and incorrect word forms ('pepole' instead of 'people'). Complex structures are attempted but often contain errors that impede clarity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. These frequent errors demonstrate a lack of control over complex grammar.
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