Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-12

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)

In recent years, there has been growing public debate surrounding the topic of spending large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities or spending money on improving existing public transport. While it is true that this topic presents both benefits and drawbacks, I believe that spending money on construcing new railway lines for very fast trains brings more positive consequences than improving existing public transport.

On the one hand, opponents may highlight certain disadvantages of building new railways, rather than developing existing public transport. They often argue that governments have to allocate significant funds to construct new railways, and it minimises the spending for other essential public facilities, such as healthcare, education and better employer privilege. Additionally, they emphasise the importance of developing existing public transport. For example, it ensures passengers' comfort and flexibility, as buses are always available, and it is the easiest public transport method to reach their destination directly.

On the other hand, there are several strong arguments in favour of my viewpoint. One of the most significant reasons is that fast trains between cities enhance individuals' safety. Truly, this is particularly important, as it leads to numerous positive impacts, as many accidents often happen on the roads. Moreover, another notable benefit is that it reduces the traffic jams, which further demonstrates its significance. As a result of this, individuals who travel using their own vehicles can have a more peaceful and better ride without having unnecessary stress. Mainly, this may contribute to declining the time on the road. Furthermore, improving fast trains between cities is highly beneficial for the people who come to work and study in urban areas from the countryside. For instance, they can have to daily ride to their homes to see their relatives and reduce their stress levels, instead of accommodating in the city for rent. Primarily, having fast trains around the country promotes more tourism attraction, which further illustrates its value. More importantly, it reduces the environmental pollution by minimising noise and air pollution, as well as the reduced carbon emissions.

In addition, a recent report indicates that this is a reasonable development supported by logical evidence, as many countries successfully adopted this strategy.

In conclusion, although there are convincing arguments on both sides of this matter, the benefits of developing new railway lines for very fast trains outweigh the drawbacks. Considering its highly beneficial impacts on both individuals and society, it is essential to focus on maximising these advantages while addressing any potential concerns.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—building new high-speed rail lines versus improving existing public transport—and provides a clear personal opinion throughout the essay. The student presents relevant ideas, such as economic opportunity, reducing traffic congestion, environmental benefits, and passenger comfort. However, some arguments in the third paragraph are slightly repetitive and lack full extension, tending to over-generalize rather than providing concrete examples. For instance, the claim about enhancing individual safety is stated without deep substantiation. Despite minor limitations in idea development, the overall position is well-maintained, aligning with Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear overall progression with a recognizable introduction, body paragraphs addressing opposing views and the writer's view, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the text, such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," and "Furthermore." However, there is some mechanical or slightly unnatural use of transition markers, such as "Mainly, this may contribute..." and "Primarily, having fast trains...", which affects the natural flow of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different arguments, supporting clear logical organization throughout. This fits the Band 7 criteria.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow flexibility and precision, employing less common items such as "allocate significant funds," "environmental pollution," and "carbon emissions." There are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, such as "employer privilege" instead of employee benefits or workplace conditions, and a spelling slip like "construcing" instead of constructing. However, the vocabulary is adequate for the task, and communication is never impeded. The lexical range is solid enough to meet the expectations of Band 6.5 to 7.0, comfortably sitting at Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and conditional-style constructions. There are frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating good control of grammar. However, a few grammatical errors and awkward phrasings persist, such as "reduces the traffic jams" (unnecessary article), "declining the time on the road" (incorrect verb choice for reducing time), and "can have to daily ride to their homes" (faulty structure). These errors do not impede communication, and punctuation is generally handled well. This performance reflects a solid Band 6.5 to 7.0 profile.

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