Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-28

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 several countries, people believe that it is necessity to allocate a large amount of money on constructing advanced railway lines for the fast trains between the cities, while others contend that spending money to enhance the available local transport is more beneficial. Although both viewpoints hold their own considerable significance, but I believe that reconstruction of existing public transport has more benefits as it required less funds and time to serve the public.

To commence with, one of the major benefits of constructing new trains is that it increases the number of transportations and safe time for the citizens as it is fast in speed, consequently commuters and students reached their destination on time. To illustrate, Japan has a huge amount of such constructions that helps the individuals to reach at time and facilitate them with numerous times saving benefits.

Despite the aforementioned discussed points, alternative viewpoint also holds considerable benefits as public transport is more convenient for individuals and have information about their stations and services. Furthermore, enhancing the already available local transports needed a smaller amount of money, as a result authorities will be able to allocate the remaining amount for other sectors like education and health. For instance, better healthcare and education system can enhance the overall lifestyle and well-being of citizens.

To conclude, although both perspectives hold substantial benefits, but I concur that refining local transport has more positive impact on the public life as it allows government to spend funds on other considerable sectors that consequently upgrade the facilities for other fields and contributes to a better quality of life for people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both viewpoints and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While the benefits of high-speed rail are mentioned, the explanation is brief and relies on a generic example. Similarly, the argument for improving existing transport is clear but could be more thoroughly supported with specific evidence or deeper analysis. The position is consistent throughout, but the essay would benefit from more detailed elaboration to reach a higher band. The task is fully addressed, but the depth of argument is at a mid-level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Despite the aforementioned discussed points', and 'To conclude' are used to guide the reader. However, there is some mechanical use of these devices, and the flow between sentences is occasionally slightly disjointed. Referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the two main body paragraphs could be smoother. Overall, the progression of ideas is coherent, and paragraphing is used appropriately to structure the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'allocate', 'contend', and 'facilitate', which are used appropriately. However, there are minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'safe time' (save time) and 'reach at time' (arrive on time). These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more precise control over word forms and collocations to reach a higher band.

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 'it is necessity' (it is necessary), 'it required' (it requires), and 'transports needed' (transport needs). Additionally, there are issues with sentence structure, such as the redundant use of 'although' and 'but' in the same sentence. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the intended meaning. To improve, the writer should focus on subject-verb agreement and avoiding redundant conjunctions.

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