Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18
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 4.0)
In a number of countries , some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very trains between cities is good for the people and its makes a many advantages in your life for time saving and easy to travel. In the other hand people believe the money should be spent on improving existing public transport is also more benefits for many peoples and save economic of your countries.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the minimum word count of 250 words, which severely limits the development of ideas. While the prompt asks to discuss both views and provide an opinion, the response only provides a very brief, superficial mention of the two sides without any supporting arguments, examples, or a clear, developed personal opinion. Due to the extreme brevity, the task is only partially addressed, and the ideas remain underdeveloped. To improve, you must expand each point with specific reasons and illustrative examples to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a deeper engagement with the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response consists of only two sentences, making it impossible to demonstrate effective paragraphing or a logical progression of ideas. While there is a basic attempt to contrast the two views using 'In the other hand', the lack of structure and the extremely limited length prevent the use of a range of cohesive devices. The text lacks an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. To improve, you should organize your essay into at least four paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs discussing each viewpoint, and a clear conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary is very basic and repetitive. Phrases such as 'makes a many advantages' and 'save economic of your countries' are grammatically incorrect and demonstrate a limited range of expression. There is no attempt to use less common or academic vocabulary appropriate for an IELTS Task 2 essay. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more precise academic terminology. For example, instead of 'save economic', use 'boost the economy' or 'improve economic efficiency'. Expanding your vocabulary will help you convey complex ideas more accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that impede clarity, such as 'its makes a many advantages' and 'is also more benefits'. The sentence structure is simplistic and lacks the variety of complex structures required for higher bands. There are also issues with word order and preposition usage, such as 'In the other hand' instead of 'On the other hand'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions. Practicing the construction of complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions will also help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.