Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-09
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)
It is often claimed in majority of states that it is important to spend huge amount of fund on building railways for fast trains in different cities, while others argued that money should invest on enhancing public transportation system. In my opinion, the main thing is to spend more money on improving the transport. The essay below will discuss both the views and arguments on enhancing the public transport.
To begin with, those who believe to spend money on constructing railways for quick service thinks that it's benefical for both the government and society. For instance, building railway lines can be benefical in many ways like using railway can be peaceful for passenger and also easy for driver to keep on track beacause the lines are build properly. So, they don't feel feared or insecure in their journey.
On the other hand, who thinks that spending money on public transport to improve that thinks that those who can't afford transportation system they can also access these and feel relaxed in their lives. As a result, every individual in the society can afford or use public transport to go on their work in a peaceful convience. From my perspective, people have to pay attention and spend more money in improving the transport system because it can be beneficial for every individual like a student, a teacher or from any other profession.
In conclusion, to sum up these factors both views have different approach. Some believe spending money on railway line can be beneficial, while others believe investing in public transport can be beneficial for them. In my opinion, it's better to spend funds in transport that can play a vital role in everyone's life.
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 views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments provided for both sides are repetitive and lack specific, concrete examples or logical depth. For instance, the argument for fast trains focuses on 'peaceful' travel without explaining economic or environmental benefits, and the argument for public transport is vague regarding accessibility. To reach a higher band, you need to extend your ideas with more detailed explanations and specific real-world examples rather than repeating general statements about 'peace' or 'convenience'. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments are underdeveloped.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', which help the reader follow the structure. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the flow between sentences within paragraphs is occasionally disjointed. For example, the transition between the idea of 'peaceful' travel and 'insecure' drivers in the second paragraph is not clearly linked. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There is frequent repetition of basic words like 'money', 'spend', 'beneficial', and 'transport'. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'majority of states' instead of 'many countries' or 'huge amount of fund' instead of 'large sums of money'. To improve, you should aim to use more varied synonyms and collocations. You are able to communicate your meaning, but the limited range of vocabulary prevents a more sophisticated discussion of the topic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'others argued' instead of 'others argue', 'who thinks' instead of 'those who think'), article usage (e.g., 'in majority of states'), and word formation (e.g., 'benefical' misspelled as 'benefical', 'convience' instead of 'convenience'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and spelling will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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