Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Transport sector is one of the cardinal sectors globally as it moves goods and people from one place to another.

Many people believe that it is beneficial for a country to spend huge funding on new rail line construction for quick moving trains from one city to another while other individuals argue that the spending should be diverted to improve the existing public transport.I strongly believe that both sentiments are agreeable.

Rail line transport is beneficial for transportation of goods in bulky, take for instance, transportation of minerals such as copper, iron, zinc and diamond.These goods are heavy in weight and rail line maybe a good option. This creates trade between cities and countries at large.

Additionally, rail line transport is generally affordable with large capacity to transport a huge number of passengers at a time resulting in the sector saving the cost of time.Passengers benefit from the economic point of view resulting from low transport charge.By so doing, passengers are able to move with large families in the same mode of transport.

On the one hand, the existing public transport such as road and marine faces various challenges that needs to be addressed through funding.The roads need to be upgraded and new roads need to be constructed for vehicles and pedestrian use to reduce road traffic accidents resulting from poor road network.

In conclusion, there is need to balance between funding of new rail line construction and renovation of existing public transport as they’re both cardinal in the sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the benefits of high-speed rail for goods and passengers, the explanation remains quite general. Similarly, the discussion on existing public transport focuses heavily on roads, neglecting other forms of public transport like buses or local trains. To achieve a higher band, ensure that your arguments are more thoroughly extended with specific examples or deeper analysis. The conclusion is brief but effectively summarizes your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'On the one hand', and 'In conclusion' to link your points. However, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is slightly abrupt. Some cohesive devices are used in a somewhat mechanical way. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid, particularly when moving between the two opposing viewpoints.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cardinal', 'diverted', and 'renovation'. However, there are some issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'transportation of goods in bulky' (should be 'in bulk') and 'saving the cost of time'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more natural collocations and idiomatic expressions appropriate for an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'transport sector is' (missing article), 'challenges that needs' (subject-verb agreement), and 'there is need' (missing article). While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede the reader's understanding. To improve, pay closer attention to articles, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will help you move into the higher band range.

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

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