Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-16

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 6.5)

In modern societies, it has been widely discussed that how money could be used to improve transportation. Some people say that it should be utilized to construct new railways lines and fast-moving trains, while others think that its' best use would be improving existing transport. This essay will discuss both sides before presenting my opinion.

On one hand, people suggest that the government should invest large funds for introducing fast trains for traveling between cities and making new railways lines for them. It will make travel convenient for the citizens and will reduce traveling time from days to hours and from hours to minutes. Consequently, it will become easier to commute for individuals who need to travel on daily basis for business meetings or trade purposes. For example, Japan has made a bullet tarin that moves within cities with a very high speed.

On the other hand, advocates of the public transport argue that the best usage of funds would be spending it for repairing the existing transport such as, increasing the number of buses, installing air conditioning system, and repairing roads. In this way, people would prefer public transport over their personal cars, which will result in reduced fuel consumption, less emission of gases, decrease in the carbon foot-print as well as the air pollution. In addition, refurbishment of existing public buses will need less amount of money than making an entirely new transport system.

In my opinion, government should prioritize spending money for repairing the existing transport system. This is because it will be advantageous for a larger proportion of the public, while intra-connecting transport will benefit a specific group of people.

In conclusion, although introducing the smart trains and building new railways would be a advancement in transport system, repairing existing one will be cost-effective as well as beneficial at a larger scale.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the environmental benefits of improving existing transport and the economic efficiency of upgrading current infrastructure. However, the development is somewhat brief; for instance, the example of Japan's bullet train is a bit generic and could have been more effectively linked to the argument. Overall, the position is consistent throughout the essay, and the main ideas are well-supported, meeting the requirements for a solid band 7 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Consequently', and 'In addition' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band. Nevertheless, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. You use some good collocations like 'refurbishment of existing public buses' and 'carbon foot-print'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and repetitive phrasing, such as 'making new railways lines' (should be 'constructing') and 'fast-moving trains'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and avoid basic verbs like 'made' or 'made' when referring to infrastructure projects. The range is sufficient to convey your ideas clearly, but lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you successfully use complex sentences, there are persistent minor errors, such as 'its' best use' (should be 'its'), 'bullet tarin' (spelling), and 'government should' (should be 'the government'). Additionally, there are occasional issues with article usage and pluralization, such as 'an advancement in transport system'. Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the grammar is generally controlled enough to maintain clear communication. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for small slips would help elevate this score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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