Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-25

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 5.0)

In many countries, some people believe that a significant amount of money should be spend on constructing new railway lines, while other people encourage to spend on improving local transport. Overall, we discuss the both views with there positive and negative aspects.

From my perspective, people who believe money should be spend on railways rather than the other transport. However, trains are one of the most effective source of travel for distant areas. During the summer vaccations many people prefer to go through the trains on their journey and if it is improved there is also increase in facilities which make the both travel and passangers effective. The role of government policies help to avoid restrictions and enhance the safety of railway lines especially in winter because most of the time it contract and the view could be blocked by smog and some times there is no safety fences with railway lines that wild animals life effect by accidents.

Furthermore, improving public transport is also have an significant impact on daily life which make city life more efficient by addressing new buses and cost effective that helps to obtain the seat or ventilation in large vehicles. Roads are the main concern in the cities and workers who use cycles gain advantage from improving the tracks and introducing the night lights which help in vision.

In conclusion, railway lines and local transport both needed the attention by government and people that they take notice of public facilities and for long journeys which maintain balance between both the transport and improving them also boost the development of cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt (spending on fast trains versus improving existing public transport) and outlines a personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited and at times unclear. For instance, the discussion on railway safety mentions that trains 'contract' in winter and refers to wildlife accidents, but these points are somewhat disjointed and lack full expansion. Similarly, the points regarding local transport, such as 'addressing new buses' and cycles, are briefly stated rather than thoroughly explored. The position is stated, but the support lacks depth and structure. Consequently, the performance aligns best with Band 5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay is divided into an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion, showing some basic organisation. However, there is no clear overall progression of ideas, and the linking between and within sentences is frequently awkward or inadequate. The second sentence of the introduction ('Overall, we discuss the both views with there positive and negative aspects') mimics a template rather than flowing naturally. Pronoun referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'they take notice of public facilities'). Cohesive devices are either misused or limited, resulting in a choppy and disjointed reading experience that fits Band 5 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repeatedly inaccurate. The writer attempts less common phrases but makes frequent word choice and collocation errors, such as 'should be spend' instead of 'spent', 'effective source of travel', and 'wild animals life effect by accidents'. Phrasing like 'obtain the seat or ventilation' is unnatural. Spelling mistakes ('vaccations', 'passangers') also occur. While the general topic is understandable, the lexical inadequacies cause noticeable difficulty for the reader, placing the response firmly in the Band 5 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The essay displays a very limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty. There are persistent grammatical errors throughout the text, such as tense and form issues ('money should be spend', 'trains is also increase'), missing prepositions, and non-standard syntax (e.g., 'improving public transport is also have an significant impact'). Punctuation is basic, and run-on sentences with poor clause connection (e.g., the long second sentence of the second body paragraph) hinder clarity. These frequent errors cause difficulty for the reader, matching the Band 5 criteria.

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.