Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
For many people around the world, the preferred method of transportation is high-speed rail. Commuters travelling to and from work rely on the safety and efficiency, while tourists appreciate the convenience and novelty that trains provide. Others believe that highways, busses and regular trains should be improved before new, high-speed lines are added.
Safety is cheif among concems for those who travel to work or school on a regular basis. If one drives a car, they have to concentrate on the road not only to avoid accidents but also to prevent other drivers from causing a problem on the road. High-speed rail allows the commuter to leave the driving to the professional controlling the train, allowing them to get some work done while getting to work safely.
In addition, people tend to move further and further away from city centres, where land and houses are more affordable. High-speed rail allows these commuters to travel greater distances in a shorter ammount of time. There is a flow-on effect here, because if we can reduce the number of cars on the road, we can also cut down on traffic jams and road delays.
On the other hand, high-speed trains are expensive, and some believe this money could be spend on repairing motorways which are used by cars, busses and motorcycles. Another possibility would be to use this money to build more regular communter trains and busses to service the ever-expanding urban populations. Moreover, boats and ferries could benefit from a budget which focuses more on existing forms of transport.
In the end, public transport is an issue which affects us all. The taxes which we pay should be spent on the type of transport which will have the most benefit to all citizens. In addition, we need to take into account how much the environment is damaged by fossil fuels and pollution. Therefore, I believe in order to move forward, we need to embrace the idea of high-speed rail so that future generations can continue to live safely and efficiently.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the discussion on safety and the environmental impact of high-speed rail. However, the development of the counter-argument regarding existing public transport could be more detailed to fully explore the 'improving existing infrastructure' perspective. The position is consistent throughout, and the essay structure effectively guides the reader through the two viewpoints before arriving at a final stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that the counter-arguments are given equal weight and depth as the primary argument.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is handled well with the phrase 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each view, and a concluding summary. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text, meeting the requirements for a coherent and well-structured response.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. You use some good collocations like 'flow-on effect', 'city centres', and 'ever-expanding urban populations'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'cheif' instead of 'chief', 'concems' instead of 'concerns', and 'ammount' instead of 'amount'. While these do not impede communication, they prevent a higher score. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated or academic vocabulary to demonstrate a wider range, and ensure careful proofreading to eliminate basic spelling mistakes that detract from the professional tone of the essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If one drives a car...') and relative clauses effectively. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'money could be spend' (should be 'spent') and 'communter' (spelling error). Punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety helps maintain the reader's interest. While the majority of sentences are error-free, the occasional grammatical inaccuracies and spelling errors keep this in the 6.5-7.0 range. Focusing on consistent verb forms and subject-verb agreement will help elevate your accuracy.
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