Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-13
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)
Transportation plays a vital role in the urbanisation of a city. Some individuals believe that a large amount of money should be spent on building new railway routes for metro trains between cities , whereas others argue that it is better to improve existing public transport as it saves money that can further be spent on other public problems. This essay will analyse the reasons behind my perspective along with examples in the subsequent paragraphs.
On the one hand, if large sums of money spend on constructing new railway lines, it will decrease the pollution of a city. As people will use less number of pubic buses to commute daily which will decrease the pollution. Investing more on making new metro trains will decrease the crowd and create another option for the population to travel more quickly. Developing new railway line means developing new transportation and this fosters the economic growth of the cities.
On the other hand, investing money to improve existing public transport will saves the money as in creating new transport system more amount of money is required . Further more, citizens are more
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 187 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence. While the prompt asks to discuss both views and provide an opinion, the conclusion is entirely missing, and the arguments provided are underdeveloped. The lack of a clear, sustained position and the failure to complete the task prevent a higher score. To improve, you must ensure you fully address all parts of the prompt and provide a coherent conclusion that synthesizes your arguments.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal structure. However, the progression of ideas is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt ending makes it difficult to assess the overall logical flow. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding paragraph means the essay lacks a sense of closure. To improve, focus on developing each paragraph with more supporting evidence and ensure you have enough time to write a full introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use repetitive phrasing such as 'large sums of money' and 'decrease the pollution'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'pubic buses' (likely a typo for 'public') and 'save the money as in creating'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to urban planning and infrastructure, and work on using synonyms to avoid repetition.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'if large sums of money spend on' (should be 'are spent on') and 'will saves the money' (should be 'will save'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors occur frequently and detract from the overall quality. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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