Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-17
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 argued that some individual believe that spending large amount of money on constructing of new railway line in the cities for fast trains, while other people argued that spending money on public transport, In my opinion, both approaches are important, but spending on public transport is essential because it serves a wider section of population.
First and foremost, construction of high speed railway lines can provide faster travel between two cities. They reduce travelling time and improve connections between major cities. They can support business, tourism, and economic growth. For example, high-speed trains allow people to travel between major cities much faster than conventional trains. Therefore, investing in high-speed rail can be beneficial for long-distance transportation.
secondary, money should spend on existing public travel is beneficial for lot of individuals. improving buses and local public transport makes daily commuting faster and comfortable it can also reduce overcrowded, pollution and traffic. For example, improving bus and metro services can help thousands of people travel conveniently to work and school every day. Therefore, investing is public transport beneficial for daily life transportation.
In conclusion, although investing in high-speed railway lines can improve connections between cities, I believe that improving existing public transport is a better use of money because it benefits a larger number of people in their daily lives.
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 essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped due to the brevity. For instance, the discussion on high-speed rail and public transport could have been expanded with more specific examples or nuanced analysis to meet the task requirements more fully. Because the response is under-length, it cannot reach a higher band for Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'First and foremost', 'secondary', 'In conclusion'). Additionally, there are some issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the run-on sentence in the introduction: '...public transport, In my opinion...'. Improving the variety and sophistication of linking words would enhance the flow of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. The student relies on basic terms like 'spending money' and 'good'. There are also some collocation errors, such as 'improving buses and local public transport makes daily commuting faster and comfortable' (should be 'more comfortable') and 'investing is public transport' (should be 'investing in'). To improve, the student should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary and ensure correct word forms and collocations are used consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include: 'some individual believe' (subject-verb agreement), 'constructing of new railway line' (article usage), 'money should spend' (passive voice error), and 'reduce overcrowded' (incorrect word form). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. More attention to subject-verb agreement, articles, and passive voice construction is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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