Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-31
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 5.0)
The railway is the important transport source for any country which can be used to commute people and material from one point to another with easy and large capacity.
In many countries the railway network is expands exceptionally which is showing the major growth in there revenue also it resolving the major issue of public transport as well as the environment pollution and crowd or traffic jam reduction in major cities.
Countries who has there railway network should first improve the existing network to increase the revenue and solve the issue of public transportation also it will help them to gain the public support as they get use to of it. If the new track construction can be began without using or repairing the existing network it can be the burden for the government as well and also create a huge problems in there budgets.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, which severely limits the development of the task. While the prompt asks to discuss both views and provide an opinion, the essay fails to adequately address the 'fast train' perspective, focusing almost exclusively on existing infrastructure. The ideas are underdeveloped, and the lack of length prevents a full discussion of the topic. To improve, you must expand on the benefits of high-speed rail, provide specific examples, and ensure your own opinion is clearly stated and supported throughout the essay.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into three short paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The transition between the general introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. Cohesive devices are limited and sometimes misused, such as the phrase 'also it will help them' which lacks a clear antecedent. The progression of ideas is hindered by the brevity of the text, making it difficult to follow a coherent argument. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'conversely', 'consequently') and ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects to the overall argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'important transport source' and 'huge problems' are simplistic and lack the precision expected at higher bands. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'commute people' (commute is usually intransitive or used for the person traveling) and 'is expands' (grammatical error affecting lexical accuracy). To improve, focus on learning collocations related to urban planning and transportation, and try to incorporate more academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater nuance and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. There are significant issues with subject-verb agreement ('the railway network is expands', 'Countries who has there'), incorrect pronoun usage ('there' instead of 'their'), and sentence structure. The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple or poorly constructed complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of possessive adjectives. Practice writing complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions like 'although', 'while', or 'because' to demonstrate better control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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