Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-11

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 6.0)

There has been a debate about whether spent money on building new transport is beneficial or improving the current public transport is better. I personally align with re-construction of existing transport. The essay will discuss both views & my opinion.

To commence with creating new railway system will create new job opportunities in many ways. For Example, workers will be needed to built the new railways as well as the vacancy for drivers of public transportation will get increased. Hence, it will be a job creating opportunity. Furthermore, it will contribute to country’s economy as well because it can attract tourism that will boost up the economic level of that area. For example, new railway will open the doors to the areas those were not accessible without proper transportation. So, it will lead to increased tourism.

On other hand, some people who believe that existing transportation system should be revoked is because it can improve the by lifestyle of people already living in a particular area. For example, if Delhi metro get restructured than people travelling daily will easily be able to travel and it will be convenient for them. Moreover, improvement of current public transport will also be cost effective. As it will not require more labour as well as material. So, money spent on existing public transport will be beneficial.

To conclude, whether creating new public transport will enhance job market and economy. I still believe that the improvement of lifestyle & saving cost by working on Current public transport is much more beneficial.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention job creation and tourism for new railways, the explanation is repetitive. Similarly, the points regarding existing transport are relevant but could be expanded with more specific detail or analysis. The conclusion is a bit abrupt and lacks a summary of the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph fully explores the 'why' and 'how' behind your arguments rather than just stating them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Furthermore', and 'On other hand'. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'On other hand, some people who believe that... is because'. Additionally, the use of '&' instead of 'and' is inappropriate for an academic essay. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used with greater precision would enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing like 'boost up the economic level' and 'open the doors'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'revoked' when referring to a transport system, which is not the correct word choice in this context. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific collocations related to urban planning and economics, and avoid informal abbreviations like '&'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'whether spent money' (should be 'whether spending money'), 'to built' (should be 'to build'), and 'if Delhi metro get restructured' (should be 'if the Delhi metro gets restructured'). These errors are frequent enough to occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of infinitives after 'to'. Proofreading for basic tense consistency will also help you achieve a higher score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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