Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-04
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)
It is undeniable that public mean of transport is one of the most convenient ways to travel. In this regards this essay will outline not only the both perspectives but also mention my opinion on the former point of view in the forthcoming paragraphs including the reasonable conclusion.
To commence with,it is important to utilize huge amount of money on railway lines. the main one is,firstly [it will reduced the amount of pollution] Global warming is a huge issue these days and private transportation is a contribution factor in it, so the construction of new railway lines will introduce people to more trains and this will leads to the public using the trains more often as it will me a more convenient way to travel.For example;a survey done in japan during 2024 shows that after introduction of trains in rural areas helps people to travel longer distance which helps to reduce public transportation lead to 12% less pollution overall in country. Secondly, [this will decline the amount of traffic in urban areas] Traffic is a huge headache for individuals living in the cities because it is very time consuming and annoying however increase in railways can give chance to residence of the country to travel to their destination more easily without traffic. For an example; According to a tv news channel report it has been reported that in cities where people use trains more often reduce the traffic by 28%.
On the other hand , those who believe that the money should be spent on other means of transport have their own points,starting with , other means of transportation is more cheaper then trains , it is easy to see that more individuals like to travel through busses rather trains because railways cant be available in every area so it is better to improve the the current transportation facilities as youngsters travel with busses to cities
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| 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 an opinion, though the development is uneven. The first body paragraph provides relevant arguments regarding pollution and traffic, supported by specific examples. However, the second body paragraph is significantly underdeveloped and ends abruptly, failing to fully explore the alternative perspective or provide a balanced discussion. The conclusion is mentioned in the introduction but is missing from the end of the essay, which is a significant omission. To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides of the argument are given equal weight and that the essay concludes with a clear summary of your position.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay uses some cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Firstly', and 'On the other hand', but their use is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate. Paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is incomplete, which disrupts the logical flow. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the opening where the connection between the introduction and the subsequent points is weak. The progression of ideas is evident, but the lack of a concluding paragraph makes the overall structure feel unfinished. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and a concluding thought would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'public mean of transport' instead of 'public means of transport' and 'more cheaper' which is a grammatical error affecting lexical accuracy. The range is somewhat limited, relying on repetitive structures. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and avoiding basic errors in word form. Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning and transportation would also be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'it will reduced' (tense error), 'this will leads' (subject-verb agreement), and 'residence of the country' (incorrect word choice for 'residents'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and semicolons. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.