Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-20

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)

In todays world, where development is progressing rapidly, the need to invest wisely is necessary. The concern about spending huge sum on constructing new railway lines for fast trains instead of improving existing transport is debateable.

The part of the population that stands for improving the existing public transport have their own views on this. Firstly, some countries need to prioritise the cleanliness of the public transports and create strict rules to maintain a hygenic environment for everyone. Secondly, Improving existing public transport will consume less money and provide faster results. This enhancement will encourage people to leave their cars behind at home leading to reduced traffic and pollution.

Whereas, the new railway lines for fast trains can be expensive and time consuming, it provides rather fascinating benefits. Faster trains will make the travel easier and quicker which saves a humoungous time of the travellers. Building separate tracks will not hamper the with the routes of regular slow travelling trains and will drastically change the traffic within and provide more flexible timings for the travellers. For instance, an employee that requires to reach his office by 9 am has to leave by 7 am to be puntual. Witht he introduction of new fast trains employees can travel hastle free and relax on their way back as well.

In my opinion, constructing new railway lines is a better idea as people would be able to spend more time on recreational activities post work or spend quality time with family rather than commuting long hours which is a tiring experience. This will also allow the less earning residents a benefit as changes in the existing system can lead to a price hike which will not be beneficial for them.

In conclusion, it is a wise decision to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities, rather than improving existing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—improving existing public transport and building new high-speed rail lines—while clearly stating a personal opinion in the third and final body paragraphs. Ideas are generally well-extended, such as discussing traffic reduction, hygiene, and commuting time benefits. However, some arguments could have been elaborated further with greater depth to reach higher bands. For instance, the discussion on price hikes for lower-income residents is a strong point but remains slightly compressed. Overall, the task is fulfilled competently, aligning well with the Band 7 requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation with a recognizable introduction, body paragraphs addressing each side, a personal opinion paragraph, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Whereas', although some transitions feel a bit mechanical or simplistic. Referencing is generally clear, guiding the reader through the discussion without major disruptions in progression. However, the use of linking words could be more flexible and varied to achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate ideas clearly, using terms such as 'prioritise', 'recreational activities', and 'commuter'. There are attempts to use less common items, including 'humongous time' and 'hastle free', though these show some inaccuracies in collocation or word choice ('humongous time' is unnatural; 'hustle free' contains a spelling error). Spelling slips like 'todays', 'hygenic', 'puntual', and 'Witht he' occur, but they do not impede overall communication. The lexical range is adequate and meets the criteria for Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at varied structures such as conditional and relative clauses ('In todays world, where development is progressing rapidly...'). There are, however, several grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the text, including missing apostrophes ('todays'), incorrect prepositions ('hamper the with the routes'), and subject-verb agreement issues ('an employee that requires... have to leave'). While these errors are noticeable and require the reader to occasionally reread, they do not severely impede understanding, placing the grammar comfortably within the Band 6 descriptor.

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

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