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)
Many countries have faced the challenge of allocating funds for the development of a transportation system. Some people believe that spending money on the construction of new high-speed railway lines. Others say that money should be given for improving the existing public transport. In this essay, we will discuss the importance of new railway lines and public transport, and why I believe that the government can spend money on public transport to have greater priority.
On the one hand, spending money on the construction of new railway lines has several advantages. High-speed railway lines benefit businessmen and leisure travelers who can travel in the city. It is beneficial for the government in terms of the growth of the economy, encouraging tourism and regional development. For example, the most famous countries, Japan and China, have provided the facilities of high-speed trains to people who can travel very large distances in a very short time.
On the other hand, the money spent on public transport is very beneficial for all of us because all of the people use buses for local travel. For example, for work, education, and many other activities, people use buses for travelling. If this service is in bad condition, like being overcrowded and many other issues, it is a very common problem.
In my opinion, spending money on the high-speed train is beneficial for people who can travel in the city, but public transport is beneficial for all. To spend money on the new railway lines is more expensive then existing public transport.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention benefits for businessmen and the economy regarding high-speed rail, the explanation remains superficial. Similarly, the argument for public transport relies on general statements about buses being overcrowded without providing a deeper analysis of why this should be prioritized over national infrastructure. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your examples and ensure the reasoning is more robust. The introduction is slightly weak as the second sentence is a sentence fragment, which impacts the clarity of your initial position.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal shifts in the argument. However, the progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For instance, the transition between the benefits of high-speed rail and the examples of Japan and China could be smoother. Additionally, the conclusion is quite brief and does not fully synthesize the points made in the body paragraphs. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring a more sophisticated flow between sentences would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'allocating funds', 'regional development', and 'infrastructure' (implied). However, the vocabulary is often repetitive, particularly the use of 'money' and 'beneficial'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'provided the facilities of high-speed trains', which sounds unnatural. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items related to urban planning and economics. The current range is sufficient to communicate your ideas clearly, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher band scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as the sentence fragment 'Some people believe that spending money on the construction of new high-speed railway lines.' (which lacks a main verb) and the error 'more expensive then' (should be 'than'). While you attempt complex sentences, they are not always error-free. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that every sentence has a clear structure. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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