Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-28
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 7.0)
In many countries, people have different opinions about spending money on transportation. Some people believe that governments should spend a lot of money on building new railway lines for very fast trains between cities, while others think that improving existing public transport is more important. This essay will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On the one hand, building new railway lines for fast trains can have many benefits. Firstly, it can reduce the travelling time between different cities. People can travel from one city to another much faster for their work or studies. Secondly, fast trains can reduce the number of cars on roads, which can help to reduce traffic problems and pollution. For example, if people have a fast and comfortable train service, they may prefer to use trains instead of their own cars. It can also help the economy because people can travel easily between cities.
On the other hand, some people believe that money should be used for improving existing public transport. In many cities, buses and local trains are old and not comfortable. They are also very crowded during busy hours. If the government improves these services, a large number of people can benefit from it every day. For example, better buses and more frequent trains can make daily travel easier for students and workers. This can also be cheaper than constructing completely new railway lines.
In my opinion, both are important, but governments should first improve the existing public transport. New fast trains are useful, but they can be very expensive to build. Improving current services can help more people in their daily life. Therefore, I think money should mainly be spent on existing public transport before building new railway lines.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the construction of high-speed railway lines and the improvement of existing public transport. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay, culminating in a well-supported final view in the conclusion. Main ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the reduction of travel time, traffic congestion, and the practical benefits of upgrading older buses and local trains for everyday commuters. The arguments are adequately developed and fulfill all requirements of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the two opposing views, and finally to the writer's personal conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Therefore' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the text, although they are somewhat formulaic. Paragraphing is used logically and effectively to separate the different stages of the argument.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'public transport', 'railway lines', 'traffic problems', 'pollution', and 'constructing'. While the vocabulary is generally functional and precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated or less common lexical items required to reach higher bands. There are occasional repetitions of basic words, but spelling and word choice are accurate and do not impede communication at all.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0
The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over structures such as conditional clauses ('if people have a fast and comfortable train service, they may prefer...') and relative clauses ('cars on roads, which can help to...'). Grammar and punctuation are generally well-controlled, and the majority of sentences are error-free. While there is a reliance on straightforward complex structures rather than a wide variety of advanced grammatical features, the errors are virtually absent.
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