Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The government should take initiative how to spend money on construction of new railway lines or improving existing public transport because both are important aspects of improving society to make life of citizens easy and comfortable.
As some people who think that it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines because it is important for the emergency conditions also to travel from one city to the other. A large number of citizens use trains for their long distance traveling. As it is a source of saving time for them to manage other important tasks of their lives. That is the reason they consider it important for the improvement of the railway lines and their tracks.
Others who believe that money should be spent on improving public transport are also right because not everyone can go through trains every time because people spend their life in their own city or home places. They have to go out to buy things for their homes and also do their other tasks of everyday life, for which they have to use public transport . Not everyone can afford their personal or private vehicles specially girls and students who live out of city for their study . For them public transport is much important than trains. If government will take it seriously then it can erase difficulties of the students as well as citizens.
In my opinion the improvement of public transport is much important because it helps people to manage their daily life affairs.
In conclusion both the aspects are considered important because both will help the people living in the same city or different places. But government should improve public transport because it is more important for people .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The arguments for high-speed rail are brief and lack specific examples or depth, focusing mainly on 'emergency conditions' and 'saving time' without explaining the broader economic or environmental benefits. Similarly, the argument for public transport is repetitive, focusing heavily on students and daily errands. While the position is clear, the supporting ideas need more elaboration and concrete evidence to reach a higher band. The response meets the basic requirements of the prompt but remains at a surface level throughout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the frequent use of 'because' and 'also' makes the flow feel a bit simplistic. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words or transitions between sentences. Referencing is generally clear, but the progression of ideas within paragraphs could be smoother. The conclusion is present but feels abrupt and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented in the body paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student relies on basic terms like 'important', 'good', and 'things'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'go through trains' instead of 'travel by train' or 'home places' instead of 'local areas'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary related to urban planning and transportation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('the government', 'the students'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward phrasing, such as 'take initiative how to spend money'. Some sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, which occasionally hinders the flow. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage is required.
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