Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-06
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)
Nowadays some people said large amount of money spent on railway lines for trains. If the railway line is in best condition , our trade is on large scale. Their is large amount of money ,we earn from railway system. If the railway lines are good ,people reached there distenation at time . If railway is good it create comfort in journey. It helps in trading of goods from one location to another location . This is a great way for trade. It create comfort in long journeys. It convert long journes in short journey.
On the other , there is a large amount of money is needed for railways. That is why public transport is better for travel. If we spent on the public transport ,then we are travel comfortable . We reached at there positions in short times . It is a way to reach at position in spent short money . That is why i use public bus mostly for travel. In my opinion it is best way for travel . But ,public transport create discomfort if we are use it for long journey. If i use them in long travel we became very tired. It is not good if we transfor any heavy weight thing from one location to another location. Some people ,when they travel in public buses they pick heavy laguage with them . This situation creates discomfort for others. In this why ,we use trains for long travel and we use public buses for short travel.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both sides of the argument, but the development is quite limited and repetitive. While you mention the benefits of high-speed rail for trade and comfort, and the cost-effectiveness of public transport, the ideas are not fully extended or supported with specific examples. The position is somewhat clear, but the argument lacks depth and sophistication. To improve, you should focus on providing more detailed explanations for your points rather than listing simple, repetitive statements. Ensure that your opinion is clearly stated in the introduction and consistently supported throughout the essay.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the internal structure is weak. There is a lack of logical progression between sentences, and the use of cohesive devices is very limited and often repetitive (e.g., starting multiple sentences with 'If...'). The connection between ideas is often mechanical, making the flow of the argument feel disjointed. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'on the other hand', or 'in contrast') to connect your ideas more naturally and improve the overall flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, which limits your ability to express complex ideas. You frequently use simple words like 'good', 'large amount', and 'travel'. There are also several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'transfor any heavy weight thing' and 'pick heavy laguage'. To reach a higher band, you need to expand your vocabulary to include more precise and academic terms related to transport and economics. Focus on learning collocations and using synonyms to avoid repeating the same words throughout your response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammar is characterized by frequent errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'some people said', 'public transport create discomfort'), article usage, and sentence structure. You rely heavily on simple sentence patterns, and your attempts at more complex structures often contain errors, such as 'In this why, we use trains...'. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct verb tenses and subject-verb agreement. Once you have a solid foundation, work on incorporating a wider range of complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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