Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-30

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)

People have different opinions on whether constructing new fast raill networks between cities by spending large sums or fundings should be spent on improving existing public transport. I believe authorities should focus on improving exiting public transport because a good transport system can make life more convenient for the residents.

Constructing new train network between cities can play a pivotal role in domestic communication. In particular, if goverenment connect cities with fast train network, residents can travel one city to another in a short time and it can reduce the distance and saves time. Trains are also cheaper from others transport, and it can saves a considerable amount of money which required in other transport alternatives.

However, spending huge sums on building new train networks between cities is not an ideal development for the travellers. Travellers can move one to another city by using other alternatives transportations, such as buses or domestic flights. These transport options are cost more than train but provide a comfortable journey, and travellers always chose comfort over cost. Instead of this, government should spend more fundings for ameliorate in existing cities current transportations. A sommoth transport syestem can make life more easier. People can go to their office on their time, students will be able to reach their classes in accurate time. Moving torwards the city will be more convenient. And for this, people will be benefited more.

In conclusion, there are differing views on whether authorities should spend on constructing new raiilways for fast trains between cities or authorities should spend on improving the existing transport. I do believe spending more on existing transport would be more beneficial for the residents owing to the fact that a good trnasport system make life more convenient for the residents.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—constructing new fast rail networks and improving existing public transport—and provides a clear personal opinion. The position is maintained throughout the response. However, the ideas lack sufficient depth and support, often remaining repetitive or under-developed. For instance, the argument that existing transport improvements make life easier is repeated multiple times without being extended with specific examples or varied rationales. This places the response comfortably in Band 6, as it addresses all parts of the prompt with relevant, albeit somewhat underdeveloped, ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is organized into four logical paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs discussing each viewpoint, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as 'However' and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For example, phrases like 'Instead of this' and 'And for this, people will be benefited more' reveal awkward mechanical linking rather than natural progression. Furthermore, paragraphing is present but internal logical progression is occasionally hindered by repetitive phrasing. This aligns well with the descriptors for Band 6, where cohesion is functional but sometimes faulty.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'pivotal role', 'domestic communication', and 'ameliorate'. However, there are notable word choice, collocation, and spelling errors throughout the text, including 'raill', 'goverenment', 'saves a considerable amount of money which required', 'cost more than train', 'ameliorate in existing cities', and 'sommoth transport syestem'. Despite these errors, meaning is generally not impeded, and the vocabulary is minimally sufficient to convey the intended message. These characteristics reflect the standard for Band 5.5 to 6.0, fitting best at Band 5.5 due to the frequency of lexical inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional structures ('if goverenment connect cities... residents can travel...') and relative clauses. However, there are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the response, including missing articles ('reach their classes in accurate time'), incorrect verb forms ('fundings', 'saves a considerable amount of money which required'), and awkward phrasing ('make life more easier'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the writing from achieving a Band 6.0, making a Band 5.0 score appropriate due to the persistence of faulty complex structures and basic grammatical slips.

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