Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-21

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 5.0)

In many of the countries, some individuals believe that it is compulsory to spend large amount of money on constructing new railway lines for the purpose of very fast trains between multiple cities. On the other hand, more people thinks that money should be spend on improving existing public transport. All the ideas are very good and helpful for the everyone but in my personal opinion, improving public transport is very significiant as compare to the constructing new railway lines.

On the one hand, it is very helpful idea to spend lot of money for the fast trains between the different cities because if we follow this purpose we save our time to travel fast trains and reach required location also we covered hundreds of miles in few hours. For instanse, if a person travel different city and he choose train so he can save his money as well as time. So, constructing new railway lines is very useful for the public.

On the other hand, many people believe that we should spend more money for the improvment of existing public transport because existing transport take very little money and improve their condition such as a new transport. In this way we don't need to spend lot of money to repair the transport. So, that is the reason people say first we should improve existing public transport.

In my perspective, both of the ideas is very useful for the public but improving transport is more significiat rather than constructing new railway lines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You present both views and state a clear preference for improving existing public transport, so the response is relevant to the question. However, the discussion is only partially developed: the fast-train paragraph mainly says trains save time and money, while the existing-transport paragraph gives little explanation of how improvements would benefit passengers. The example about travelling to another city is general and does not clearly support the comparison. Your conclusion repeats your preference rather than adding a reason. The response is also 244 words, six words below the required minimum; the eight words copied from the prompt are excluded from that count. Develop each side with a specific benefit and a relevant example to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a concluding opinion. The signposts “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help readers follow the contrast, and your position is stated in both the opening and conclusion. However, progression within paragraphs is limited, with several ideas joined by “so” or “because” rather than developed through clear explanation. For example, the claim that existing transport “take very little money” is followed by an unclear point about improving its condition. Some linking is mechanical, and “All the ideas are very good” does not clearly connect the introduction to the argument. Use clearer cause-and-effect links and build each paragraph around one developed point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the general subject, including “railway lines,” “fast trains,” “public transport,” and “improving.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as “very useful,” “lot of money,” and “different cities.” There are also noticeable word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems: “compulsory” does not accurately express that spending is considered necessary, and “significiant” and “instanse” are misspelled. These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less clear, particularly in the explanation of the cost of improving existing transport. Aim for more precise transport-related vocabulary and check spelling and natural word combinations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including conditional and reason clauses, as in “if we follow this purpose we save our time.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward or difficult to follow. Examples include “more people thinks,” “money should be spend,” “a person travel,” and “both of the ideas is,” which show problems with subject–verb agreement and verb forms. Articles and sentence construction also need attention in phrases such as “for the everyone” and “it is very helpful idea.” Practise accurate present-tense forms and agreement, and use a wider range of sentence patterns only when you can control them reliably.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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