Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-19

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)

It is necessary to invest in money for construction on new railway lines for bullet trains for improving inter-city transport system, however improving existing infrastructers is also essential. Measured and equitable investments by government depending on the condition of public transport can ensure proper facilites.

Increasing investments to build railway tracks for bullet trains is important as it will increase in transport routes across cities, making commuting more convinient and cheaper. Such facilites will allow rapid growth in cities which are less or under developed. People will rely less on smaller transports to travel to travel distant cities such as cars or buses decreasing the usuage of fuel and reducing pollution. Expense of commuting will also become cheaper, as more people use bullet trains to travel across cities, relying less on expensive travel costs such as air flights.

However, it is also important to note, that improvement to current transport system is necessary. Government should ensure proper investments are made to improvinport system so as to avoid excessive traffic or overcrowd.

g condition of roads, expressways depending gon their condition. Introducing far-city buses to newer travel routes, allowing citizens to choose their preferred form of public transport, making it vital to diversify the transport system.

Therefore, government must ensure policies that focuse on improving existing public transport and introduce newer facilities to modernize the transport system with environmental concerns in consideration. It is only possible through appropriate distribution of money, improving condition of roads, buses making travelling in between cities more easier and accessible.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both sides of the discussion and give a clear overall view: investment should be distributed according to the condition of public transport. The benefits of high-speed rail are relevant, including faster inter-city travel, reduced reliance on cars and buses, and potentially lower travel costs. You also mention improving roads and adding bus routes. However, the case for upgrading existing transport is less fully explained, and the final position could be more decisive about when one type of investment should take priority. Some claims, such as the effect of bullet trains on less-developed cities, would be stronger with a specific example or clearer explanation. Develop both sides to a similar depth and connect your examples directly to the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph supporting new railways, a paragraph on existing transport, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “However” and “Therefore” help signal the change in viewpoint. Nevertheless, progression is weakened by unclear or disrupted sentences in the existing-transport paragraph, particularly “Government should ensure proper investments are made to improvinport system…” and the following fragment about roads and expressways. This makes the relationship between the ideas difficult to follow. Some points also repeat, such as making travel cheaper and more accessible, without being clearly developed. Use complete, logically ordered sentences, and make each paragraph’s main point explicit before adding supporting details.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a relevant range of transport and policy vocabulary, including “commuting,” “overcrowd,” “diversify the transport system,” and “distribution of money.” These choices show an effort to discuss the topic beyond basic terms. However, inaccurate word forms, spelling, and collocations are noticeable and sometimes make the meaning less clear: “invest in money,” “infrastructers,” “facilites,” “convinient,” and “usuage.” Phrases such as “travel costs such as air flights” are also imprecise, since flights are a mode of transport rather than a cost. Aim for accurate, natural combinations and proofread spelling. More precise terms such as “allocate funding,” “transport infrastructure,” and “air travel” would make the argument clearer and more formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple statements and attempts at longer structures, including the opening contrast with “however” and the clause beginning “as more people use bullet trains.” This gives some variety, but control is inconsistent. For example, “It is necessary to invest in money for construction on new railway lines” has an awkward grammatical pattern, while “Government should ensure proper investments are made to…” does not form a complete, clear sentence in the submitted text. The conclusion also contains a difficult construction: “It is only possible through appropriate distribution of money, improving condition of roads…” Articles, prepositions, and sentence boundaries need closer attention. Build complex sentences around one clear main clause, then check that each dependent clause is grammatically connected.

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