Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-13

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 countless countries it is stated that money should be spent on making the existing transportation better rather than investing it in new bullet trains. I personally believe that the local transportation should keep on evolving as new technology helps us by saving the time it takes us to go from one city to the other..

If the government spends economic budget on new transportation it will help significant amount of people in various ways and few of them are discussed in this essay. People get benefitted from this through new job opportunities which eventually help the economy and the citizens. Moreover, there will be a tremendous change in the chaotic traffic as individuals would prefer travelling through a more comfortable and cost effective means of transportation.

For example, according to The Khaleej Times The United Arab Emirates has the best public transport, not only tourists but residents also prefer travelling through trains and buses by parking their cars on the station. It helps them control their expenses and travel fast but peacefully.

On the other hand, some believe the existing transport should be improved by making upgradation in the equipment used in buses and trains. However, I believe that the transportation should keep on evolving and new mechanics should be installed for a more comfortable and fast travel. As bullet trains helps us achieve a more faster way to travel between cities or countries considering Europe. For example, Bullet trains of Europe help citizens travel between countries in a faster manner.

In a nutshell, both the views have their own pros and cons however, I personally think that new upgrades in the transporation with time will help us have extensive job opportunities and save our travel cost and time by a huge margin.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear personal preference for developing transport and include relevant benefits such as employment, reduced traffic, and faster journeys. The UAE example adds some support. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the case for improving existing public transport is only briefly described as upgrading buses and trains; it is not developed with reasons or an example. Your discussion of high-speed rail also shifts between new transport generally and bullet trains specifically, so the argument is not always focused. To strengthen the response, explain the distinct advantages of upgrading current services, such as wider access or lower costs, then compare these with the benefits and limitations of new intercity rail. Keep your position consistent and support each main point more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs signalled by “Moreover” and “On the other hand,” and a concluding summary. These features help readers identify the main sections. However, progression within the discussion is uneven: the first body paragraph focuses on new transport, while the opposing view receives little explanation before the essay returns to your preference. Some links are mechanical or unclear, including “If the government spends economic budget” and the transition from the UAE example to the opposing view. The conclusion repeats the preference and benefits rather than drawing together the comparison. Organise each body paragraph around one view, develop its reasons in sequence, and use linking phrases to show the relationship between ideas rather than simply marking a new section.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “bullet trains,” “job opportunities,” “chaotic traffic,” and “cost effective,” so the subject is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “tremendous change.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “economic budget,” “making upgradation,” “new mechanics,” and “a more faster way” reduce naturalness. “Transportation” and “travel” are repeated often, and “transporation” is misspelled in the conclusion. Aim for precise transport-related collocations and vary repeated terms—for example, use “public transport network,” “upgrade existing services,” or “high-speed rail.” This would make the vocabulary more controlled and appropriate to an academic discussion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a conditional opening to a body paragraph and a relative clause in “which eventually help the economy.” Meaning is usually understandable, but errors in agreement, comparison, articles, and punctuation are noticeable. For example, “bullet trains helps” should use a plural verb, and “a more faster way” has an incorrect comparative form. The opening sentence ends with a doubled full stop, while “according to The Khaleej Times The United Arab Emirates” needs clearer punctuation around the source. Some sentence patterns are also awkwardly constructed, such as “If the government spends economic budget on new transportation it will help significant amount of people.” Practise accurate complex sentences, checking subject–verb agreement and article use, and proofread punctuation.

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