Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
Some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast train between cities while other believe that money should be spend on improving existing public transport in my opinion both are very important but the train should be built first.
Starting of with it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast train between cities because railways connect cities and which led to development of the cities both city will get new things and both the places will be connected so the people will be able to use local transport which will connect the people of both the country and which will help the country to develop and create a source of income which will help to make new development in country. For example there was no public transport between two city so the goods were not able to exchange and no new thing and development is dome between cities after the train it has develop a lot
Coming up onto the other point which is improving the public transport which is also a good thing but it only be improve and not be modern once a transport will be replace with the new one it will be best for the upcoming future of country and people will also be happy with the nation that it is developing
in conclude some people think that there should be new railway with fast train where there think that transport should be improve in my opinion there should be fast train which will help to connect cities and help the country
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 a clear opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments regarding the benefits of high-speed rail are repetitive and lack specific, well-explained examples. The example provided about 'two city' is vague and does not clearly illustrate the economic impact. The discussion on improving existing public transport is also underdeveloped, lacking depth in explaining why this might be a viable alternative. To improve, you should focus on expanding your points with more detailed reasoning and concrete, real-world examples to support your position more effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between ideas is often mechanical or abrupt, such as 'Starting of with' and 'Coming up onto the other point'. There is a lack of varied cohesive devices, and the referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of the argument. The conclusion is very brief and does not effectively summarise the main points discussed in the body paragraphs. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'spend large sums of money', 'constructing new railway lines', and 'development of the cities' are used multiple times. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'no new thing and development is dome' (done) and 'it only be improve'. The vocabulary is generally basic and lacks the precision required for a higher band score. You should aim to incorporate a wider range of topic-specific vocabulary and synonyms to avoid repetition and improve the sophistication of your expression.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('other believe', 'it only be improve'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, making them difficult to parse. While there is an attempt at complex sentence structures, they are often faulty, leading to confusion. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct verb tenses, and proofreading for common errors such as pluralisation and missing articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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