Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-29

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, a majority of people think's funding in railway is very essential and other believes providing money to public transport is very important. But I think spending money on railway is very important because it is environment friendly and cheap in cost. In below, I will describe both point of view.

First of all, spending money on railway construction is very important because it is environment friendly. when mostly people use train for their travel then they they are never uses their cars on roads and it helps in saving environment and also decreases noise on the roads. For example, in Europe we could see empty road and very peaceful. This is because they prefer travel to train.

The second benefit of railways, it too cheap as compare to other vehicles because people not needs to pay a huge amount for fuel. For example in India the cost of petrol and diesel is too high and this is because for not having better railway system.

On the other hand, funding in public transport is less important as compare to railway. This is because transport create many disadvantages for environment and also for citizens when many people start traveling on cars, buses and then it becomes cause of crowd on roads. When number of vehicles run on road and spread pollution.

Secondly, travel on the public transport is a bit costly as compare to railway. The main disadvantage of public transport is waste of time because these vehicles runs on the roads slowly.

In conclusion, funding on railway is more helpful then public transport and travel on train is too comfortable,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, but the development of ideas is limited. While you state your opinion, the arguments provided are somewhat repetitive and lack depth. For instance, the claim that public transport is 'less important' than railways is not fully supported by logical reasoning, as public transport often includes buses and local trains which are essential for urban mobility. The arguments regarding environmental impact and cost are mentioned but remain underdeveloped. To improve, ensure that each paragraph provides a clear, distinct point supported by a specific example or detailed explanation, rather than repeating similar points about pollution and cost across different sections.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'In below' and 'The second benefit of railways, it too cheap' are awkward and disrupt the flow of ideas. The transition between paragraphs is basic, relying on simple markers like 'First of all' and 'On the other hand'. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'this', 'these') clearly points back to the intended noun to improve the logical progression of your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning, but it is repetitive and lacks precision. You frequently use simple terms like 'important', 'money', and 'cheap'. There are also noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'think's funding' instead of 'think that funding' and 'travel to train' instead of 'travel by train'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'infrastructure', 'sustainability', 'fiscal allocation', or 'commuter services'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repeating the same words throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a high frequency of grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are frequent issues with subject-verb agreement ('other believes', 'people not needs'), article usage, and sentence structure ('when mostly people use train'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some errors in complex constructions. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence patterns, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Proofreading for common errors like missing 's' on verbs or incorrect verb forms will significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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