Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-01

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, there is a debate about whether governments should spend a large amount of money on building new railway lines for high-speed trains or improving the existing public transport system. While high-speed railways can provide faster travel between cities, I believe that improving current public transport should be given more attention.

On the one hand, constructing new railway lines for very fast trains has several advantages. Firstly, high-speed trains can reduce travelling time significantly. People can travel between major cities much faster than by road, which can be especially useful for business workers and students. Secondly, these trains can reduce the number of cars and buses on highways, which may help to decrease traffic congestion and air pollution. For example, if more people use high-speed trains to travel between large cities, fewer private vehicles may be needed for long-distance journeys. This can also make transportation more environmentally friendly.

On the other hand, improving existing public transport can be more useful for the majority of people. In many cities, buses, local trains and metro systems are already available but they may be overcrowded, old or unreliable. Spending money on increasing the number of buses, improving railway stations and making services more frequent can make daily travel easier for ordinary citizens. For instance, better local buses can help workers and students reach their workplaces and educational institutions more conveniently. Moreover, improving existing systems may cost less than constructing completely new railway lines.

In my opinion, governments should mainly focus on improving existing public transport, while developing high-speed railway networks where they are genuinely needed. A good public transport system can benefit a larger number of people and can solve everyday transportation problems.

In conclusion, although high-speed trains can make travelling between cities faster and reduce traffic on roads, improving existing public transport is likely to provide greater benefits to the general population. Therefore, governments should carefully balance investment in both areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on transportation expenditure and presenting a clear personal position throughout. In the introduction, you state your preference for improving current public transport, and this stance is maintained until the conclusion. Main ideas are extended and supported effectively; for instance, when discussing high-speed rail, you elaborate on travel time reduction and environmental benefits, and when discussing existing transport, you point out the reduction of overcrowding for ordinary citizens. While the arguments are generally well-developed, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise regarding the cost-effectiveness and exact benefits of local upgrades without deeper contextual examples. To reach a higher level, you could provide more specific, nuanced scenarios or deeper analysis of why high-speed rail might fail to meet local needs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Your essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a well-defined introduction, moving through balanced body paragraphs examining both perspectives, and finishing with a cohesive conclusion. You use cohesive devices flexibly, such as transition markers like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'For instance', which help guide the reader smoothly between contrasting points. Paragraphing is used appropriately, ensuring that each new idea or view is separated into its own logical section. To achieve an even higher standard, referencing could be slightly more varied to avoid repetitive cohesive patterns, ensuring that transitions feel entirely natural and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'traffic congestion', 'environmentally friendly', and 'educational institutions'. Your word choices generally communicate your ideas clearly and effectively without impeding the reader. However, there are occasional instances where vocabulary is somewhat standard or repetitive, such as using 'spending money' and 'improving existing public transport' multiple times. To reach the next level, you should incorporate a wider variety of sophisticated phrasing and idioms or more precise academic collocations related to urban planning and infrastructure, while ensuring complete precision in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

You display a good control of grammar and punctuation, utilising a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences. Examples of complex structures include conditional clauses ('if more people use high-speed trains...') and concessive clauses ('While high-speed railways can provide...'). Punctuation is handled accurately, and your verb forms and tenses remain consistent throughout the piece. A few minor limitations persist, keeping the response at this level; sentences tend to follow similar syntactic patterns, and a broader variety of advanced subordinate clauses would enhance the grammatical range further. Nevertheless, grammatical control remains strong and communication is never hindered.

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