Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-02
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)
Some people believe that spending a large amount of money on building new railway lines is essential, others argue that improving public transport is more essential. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I believe governments should focus on improving public transport.
There are a number of reasons behind my opinion. One possible reasons is that modern public transport facilities encourage people to use fewer private cars, because public transport is cheap and convenient. As a result, it helps to reduce traffic congestion and the environment would not be polluted. Another reason is that improved public transport does not create crowed and provide a easy and comportable journey to people. Therefore, people are likely to use more trains and buses and governments earn a large amount of revenue through public transport, which contributes to whole nation's economy. Without improving public transport none of this facilities would have been possible.
Despite the above arguments it cannot be denied that building new lines is essential too. Firstly, it helps to reduce commuting time. As a results, people can use these time in a productive work and to learns new skills such as coding, photography and typing. Secondly, it is very beneficial to a country to have a good infrastructure like new railway lines. Sometimes people can use them in different purposes such as travelling different regions, exploring railway journey.
In conclusion, although building new railway lines has many advantages, I would argue that governments should give more priority to improve existing public transport.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'coding, photography and typing' as a benefit of faster trains is a bit tenuous and lacks depth. While the task is addressed, the supporting points could be more thoroughly explored to reach a higher band. The conclusion is clear, but the overall development remains somewhat superficial, which is characteristic of a Band 6 response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Despite the above arguments', 'Firstly', and 'In conclusion' are used to link ideas. However, there are some mechanical aspects to the cohesion, and the referencing is occasionally slightly awkward, such as 'none of this facilities'. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow between sentences could be smoother to achieve a higher score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of word-choice errors or awkward collocations, such as 'crowed' (likely meant 'crowded'), 'comportable' (meant 'comfortable'), and 'exploring railway journey'. These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a limited control over more sophisticated vocabulary. To improve, you should focus on learning more precise collocations and ensuring accurate spelling of common descriptive adjectives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'One possible reasons is', 'none of this facilities', and 'use these time'. Additionally, there are issues with pluralization and article usage. While the meaning is generally clear and the errors do not prevent understanding, the frequency of these slips prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of determiners.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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