Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-16

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)

Some people believe that spending a large amount of money on constructing new railway lines for the fatsest transportation, while others are believer of improving existing public transport. It entirely depends on the population of the country and what people need.

Spending a huge amount on constructing the fastest trains for transportation between cities is really beneficial for the people in countries with larger populations because it will help people to visit their families who are living in different cities for work or studies. Trains might be a cheaper option in comparison to flights , which will assist people financially. I am Indian and saw alot of people travelling between different cities for work due to not having enough opportunities to earn livelihood in their town/city, which is very tiring and expensive because of the time spent on commuting. These people don't have any quality of life, nor do they have any time left for their kids to play with or enjoy hobbies, etc.

Now I would like to talk about the other idea of improving existing public transport, relating my personal experience again. Currently, I am experiencing perks of living a beautiful life in New Zealand. It's an incredibly amazing country but with overall population of 5.5 million. People here doesnt require fast trains but better public transport definitely can help people rather than fast trains. People living in small towns don't have public transport ,they either have to own a car or use cab, which can be very expensive. Buses and town trains could be a great addition to transport ,saves money for those who have more dependent than ear

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on transportation spending and presenting a clear personal opinion based on context and population size. The position is maintained throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven and relies heavily on personal anecdotes rather than a wider societal overview. For instance, the discussion of high populations relies on the specific example of India, and the argument for smaller populations focuses on New Zealand. While these examples are relevant, the ideas remain somewhat limited and under-developed, particularly regarding the broader economic or environmental implications of high-speed rail versus local transit upgrades. Consequently, the response fits well within the Band 6 descriptor, where all parts are addressed, but some arguments are under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear stance and a logical progression from one view to the other, separated into appropriate paragraphs. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty or mechanical. The transitions between ideas and paragraphs lack smooth linking phrases, and referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the sudden shift into personal anecdotes without adequate signposting. Furthermore, paragraphing is disrupted by the abrupt ending of the final sentence, which trails off mid-thought due to the incomplete conclusion. Despite these flaws, the logical flow remains understandable throughout most of the text, supporting a Band 6 score for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'opportunities to earn livelihood' and 'perks of living a beautiful life'. However, there are noticeable spelling errors ('fatsest', 'alot', 'doesnt') and occasional awkward word choices or collocations ('use cab', 'more dependent than ear'). While these lexical inaccuracies and typographical slips are noticeable, they do not impede communication, as the reader can easily follow the intended meaning. This performance is characteristic of Band 6, where the writer has an adequate vocabulary range to communicate the main points despite some errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some ambition with subordinate clauses, such as in the opening sentence. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, including missing articles ('use cab', 'have public transport'), punctuation omissions, and awkward phrasing. For example, the sentence 'People here doesnt require fast trains but better public transport definitely can help people rather than fast trains' contains a subject-verb agreement error ('doesnt') and repetitive phrasing. Although these errors are present, they rarely impede overall communication. The command of grammar aligns closely with the Band 6 descriptor, featuring a blend of structures alongside persistent errors.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.