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 majority of nations, some individuals believe it is important to spend large amount of money on producing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. Whereas, others think the money ought to be spend on enhancing existing means of public transportation. From my perspective, I believe that spending money in railroads is something interessant in today’s life, because it helps people to travel between cities easily, while spending it on existing public transport is something basic.
To begin with, railroads play a fundamental role in today’s life as it can facilitate fast train transportation between cities easily. In addition to, people who do not have a lot of money to pay a ticket to travel in a plane, will find it easier to go in train with a little amount of money. A compelling example is when people in need have an urgent event as a surgery or wedding on an other city, they will find trains that can suits their ability.
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 fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 164 words. This significant under-length prevents the full development of ideas, resulting in a fragmented discussion. While the prompt asks to discuss both views and provide an opinion, the response is underdeveloped; the arguments regarding high-speed rail and existing public transport are superficial and lack sufficient supporting evidence or examples. The position is stated, but the lack of depth and the failure to complete the task length significantly limit the score. To improve, you must expand your arguments with more detailed explanations and relevant examples to meet the word count.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay shows some basic organization with an introduction and a body paragraph. However, the progression of ideas is limited by the brevity of the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with' and 'In addition to', but they are sometimes used incorrectly or mechanically. For instance, 'In addition to' is followed by a full clause, which is grammatically incorrect. Paragraphing is present, but the lack of a conclusion or a more balanced structure makes the overall flow feel incomplete. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that cohesive devices are used to link ideas logically rather than just acting as sentence starters.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are instances of awkward word choices, such as 'something interessant' (a spelling error and a non-native phrasing) and 'go in train'. The range is limited, relying on repetitive structures and simple adjectives. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary and collocations, such as 'infrastructure investment' instead of 'spending money in railroads' or 'cost-effective' instead of 'little amount of money'. Focus on expanding your vocabulary to include more sophisticated synonyms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'money ought to be spend' (should be 'spent'), 'on an other city' (should be 'in another city'), and 'trains that can suits' (should be 'suit'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels clunky. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice. Reviewing basic sentence patterns and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately will help improve your grammatical accuracy and range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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