Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-25

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)

In many countries, trains are the most used form of transportation. Due to which, some people in these countries propose that the government should invest in construction of new railway lines for faster travel between cities. Others believe the capital should go to upgrading existing public transport. I will discuss both sides of the argument and also give my opinion in the upcoming paragraphs.

On one side, there are many reasons to invest in newer railway lines. The main one being, better for inter-city travel. To be more precise, trains are the best form of transportation for inter-city travel especially for cities which are farther away. No other form of transportation can compete with trains in terms of passenger capacity, cost and affordability. Trains are relatively cheaper and faster than buses. Therefore, constructing new railway lines for faster trains will be more beneficial. In a study by 'English Times' it was found that trains cost 47% less than buses on a per kilometer basis.

On the other hand, there are conditions where spending money on existing public transport may be better, like for intra-city travel. To clarify further, even though trains are best for traveling between cities, they are not ideal for everyday commute in the city. This is because, majority of people travel in the city for work or other reasons and in these cases trains are not practical to use. In this case, public transport like buses really shine and provide the most efficient way of travelling. Therefore, spending money to improve these systems can make intracity travelling easier and more affordable.

To conclude, there are facts which support both sides of the argument. Both railways and public transport have their distinct areas where they excel. Therefore, they should be evaluated before making any decision.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear structure. However, the position is not fully developed. While you mention that you will give your opinion in the introduction, the conclusion fails to clearly state your personal stance, merely suggesting that both sides should be evaluated. To reach a higher band, you must explicitly state which side you support and why. The ideas are relevant, but the development is somewhat superficial; for instance, the argument about passenger capacity could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to fully satisfy the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. You use cohesive devices such as 'On one side', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the sentence 'Due to which, some people...' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the cohesion of the opening paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is precise will help elevate the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'inter-city travel', 'passenger capacity', and 'intra-city'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. There are instances where word choice could be more precise, such as using 'capital' to refer to public funds, which is slightly unusual in this context. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations and avoid relying on basic descriptors like 'best' or 'cheaper'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'Due to which, some people...' (a sentence fragment) and 'majority of people' (missing an article). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor issues with comma usage. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for more error-free complex sentences and ensure that your grammatical control is consistent throughout the text, particularly regarding articles and sentence fragments.

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

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