Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In several countries, some people believe that governments should spend money on constructing new railway lines to make travel between cities faster, while others argue that this money should instead be spent on improving existing public transport. In my opinion, I strongly agree that governments should prioritize improving public transport.

On the one hand, people who believe that new railway tracks should be constructed argue that this would make travel between cities faster. According to them, if more railway lines were built, people could reach their destinations in half the time compared with the present situation. This would be particularly useful during festivals and long holidays, when a large number of people travel to their hometowns and villages. Many people live in cities away from their families, and during these periods they often face difficulties travelling home because there are not enough railway services.

On the other hand, those who think that governments should spend money on improving local public transport have a different point of view. The majority of people use local transport more frequently than trains, both for travelling within their cities and for their daily activities. For example, people regularly use buses and other forms of public transport to travel to schools, colleges and workplaces. Moreover, public transport is more affordable than private vehicles, and not everyone can afford to own a car or motorcycle. Therefore, improving local transport would benefit a larger number of people in their everyday lives.

In conclusion, although constructing new railway lines could make travel between cities faster, I believe that governments should first invest in improving existing public transport. This would benefit a greater proportion of the population because local transport is used by people on a daily basis, not only by those travelling between cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both views—the construction of high-speed rail and the improvement of existing public transport—and provided a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the mention of travel during festivals for the first view and the daily utility of local transport for the second. To reach a higher band, you could further develop the 'opinion' section by explaining why the benefits of local transport outweigh the long-term economic or environmental advantages of high-speed rail, providing a more nuanced comparison.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using standard cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and restates your position. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of cohesive markers beyond the basic 'Moreover' and 'Therefore' to link sentences more sophisticatedly within paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms such as 'prioritize', 'destinations', 'affordable', and 'proportion of the population'. The language is natural and conveys your meaning clearly. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks the 'less common' or 'idiomatic' items required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or topic-specific academic vocabulary related to urban planning or infrastructure development, such as 'urban congestion', 'fiscal allocation', or 'commuter accessibility'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional clauses ('if more railway lines were built...') and concessive clauses ('although constructing...') effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. To move into the 8.0 range, ensure a higher frequency of error-free complex sentences and experiment with more varied punctuation or advanced structures like inversion or passive voice to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

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