Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-29
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 5.5)
In many nations, Some individuals belives that it is required to spend more sums of money to developing new railways lines for fast trains between cities. While other belives that the money should be spend on improving existing public transport. I partly agrre with both the views because boththe views have there own merits and demerits. The both the views with my own opinion are elaborated with the following paragraphs.
On the one hand, there are so many benefits after developing the railways lines firstly, many individuals are transport form one place to another with lowest ticket price and with less time consuming. Secondly, train is the safest and fast route of transport because there are no problmes of traffic on track of the railways lines so individuals can reach on there destination on time. For example, many people are travel by train for there work so they not be late due to traffic issue and they be on time and continue there work with time managment.
On the other hand, some people are think that money should be spent on the existing public transport however so may people are using diffrent modes of transport for there work because not all the people are using train for travelling such as most of students are using bus for there travel so the money should be spend on the public transport. Besides this, air pollution is very less by using public transport by most of people it is safe for the nation so for this reason money should be spend on the existing public transport.
In my opinion, both the views have there same merits and both are very uesfull for the individuals in there daily life and from this environment pollution is reduced by spending money on the public transport so I partially agree with both the views.
In conclusion, railways transport are more use from its lower cot of ticket and safe route of transport and other public transport is also using by so many individuals from that fuel is less used as a result environment pollution is become less. In my opinion, both the views are usefull for the individuals.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on transportation funding and providing a clear, albeit repetitive, personal opinion. The student presents relevant ideas, such as economic benefits and travel efficiency for railways, and environmental advantages alongside flexibility for existing public transport. However, the ideas are somewhat under-developed and lack extended specific examples, relying instead on broad generalisations like "many people are travel by train for there work." The conclusion and body paragraphs reiterate very similar points without deep exploration, which keeps the score at this level. Nevertheless, the main prompt requirements are covered sufficiently to meet the criteria for a band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a recognisable introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Paragraphing is attempted, though the division between paragraphs is sometimes unconventional or redundant, such as having a very brief concluding paragraph that repeats the opinion. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," and "In conclusion." However, referencing is frequently faulty and mechanical (e.g., repeating "both the views have there same merits" excessively), and transitions lack seamless integration. Overall, the logical progression is hindered by repetitive phrasing and minor structural awkwardness.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary to discuss transport options, including terms like "air pollution," "public transport," and "ticket price." However, there is a noticeable lack of precision and frequent word-choice errors, such as writing "transport form one place" instead of "transported from one place," and "more sums of money" instead of "large sums of money." Less common lexical items are attempted but often inaccurate (e.g., "time managment" or spelling issues like "agrre," "uesfull," and "cot"). These errors occur throughout the text, constraining the lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is weak. There are frequent errors in verb forms, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions throughout the text (e.g., "some individuals belives," "money should be spend," "people are think," and "environment pollution is become less"). Punctuation and article usage also show persistent issues. While the meaning is generally communicated despite the frequent errors, the high density of basic grammatical mistakes prevents the response from achieving a higher band.
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.