Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-13
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)
Nowadays, many countries spend significant amounts of money on constructing new railway lines for rapid intercity transport, while this is a positive development, many believe that it is better to invest and improve the existing public transport. I strongly agree that it is more benificial to improve public transport.
On one hand, constructing new railways that connect cities offer a more comfortable, fast and reliable commute between cities. Many individuals prefer sitting comfortably in a train waiting to reach their destination rather than being focused on driving and aware of all their surroundings. Furthermore, using trains rather than cars can reduce traffic congestions, rates of car accidents and carbon dioxide emissions by reducing the number of cars on the road. However, the cost of constructing railways can be extremely expensive, from preparing the infrastructure to proper mapping, it can be a very challenging and time consuming process.
On the other hand, investing in exisitng public transport can be extremely benificial and cost-effective. In many countries, public transport is outdated and lacks the required resources to withstand the increasing demand it faces. For instance, in Dubai many individuals struggled to get to work without purchasing a car until the Dubai metro was created, which allowed individuals to cover far distances in short periods of time. Furthermore, focusing on improving public transport is extremely benifical for the environment due to the reduction of toxic gas emissions through reducing the amount of vehicles on the road.
In my opinion, I believe that shifting focus towards improving public transport is crucial due to the desperate need for improvements and increasing demand. Moreover, public transport is far more utilized than intercity transport and thus would be more benificial to improve.
In summary, while both options offer significant advantages, I absolutely believe that focusing on improving public transport is more pivotal and benificial for everyday use.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the construction of new railway lines for very fast trains and the improvement of existing public transport, while also providing a clear personal opinion. The student's position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are generally well-extended and supported with logical arguments, such as the environmental benefits and cost-effectiveness of upgrading existing systems, alongside the advantages of high-speed intercity rails like reducing traffic congestion. However, some arguments lean slightly towards over-generalisation and could benefit from further specific depth to reach the highest bands. Overall, the requirements of the prompt are fully met with clear, relevant task progression.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are structured with a logical beginning, body paragraphs discussing both sides, and a conclusive summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with distinct paragraphs dedicated to each viewpoint and the writer's stance. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well, such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore', though there are minor mechanical transitions. Referencing is mostly clear, ensuring the reader can easily follow the progression of arguments from paragraph to paragraph.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as 'infrastructure', 'congestion', and 'cost-effective'. However, there are a few recurring spelling errors, notably 'benificial' instead of 'beneficial' and 'exisitng' instead of 'existing', as well as minor lexical inaccuracies. Despite these errors, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly without impeding communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and conditional structures, such as 'constructing new railways that connect cities offer...' (which contains a subject-verb agreement error). There are several grammatical errors present, such as punctuation issues and spelling mistakes, but the majority of sentences remain clear and comprehensible. Complex structures are attempted with varying degrees of success, and the errors do not impede overall communication.
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