Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-22

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)

A number of people believe that spending a huge amount of money on building railway lines for very fast trains between cities is necessary; on the other hand, some people think the money should be used to improve existing public transport in their countries. Between the two options, I guess new railway lines are the optimal solution for people to travel very fast.

Trains are very fast and safe compared to other public transport. Also, trains can carry a large number of people to their destination in one journey. There is no traffic congestion among train systems. The cost of construction is cheaper compared to building new roads. Trains can cover almost every city and metropolitan area. Most importantly, the rate of train accidents are less than road accidents. For example, if we look at the news every day, we see a car or a bus accident happening around us.

On the other hand, creating new roads or expanding roads are costly than building new railways. Even though we build new roads, after some time the roads will be congested with cars. Because people get access to use cars without paying, they use the road unconditionally. For instance, the government created the Dhaka-Chittagong highway for the public, but after some time, people face a huge amount of traffic jams. Buses cannot carry as many passengers as a train can. So the number of round trips for a bus is higher than for a train, and this causes a higher cost.

In conclusion, budgeting a large amount of money to establish new railway lines is necessary.I firmly believe that fast trains can reduce traffic jams and save people's time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear preference for new railway lines in the opening and conclusion, and you include relevant points about speed, capacity, safety and congestion. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the second body paragraph mainly argues against building or expanding roads rather than explaining the case for improving existing public transport. This leaves one side only partially addressed. Several claims, such as trains covering “almost every city” and having lower construction costs, are asserted without support or qualification. The Dhaka–Chittagong example illustrates road congestion, but it does not show how upgrading current buses or other transport could help. Develop that opposing view directly, then compare the benefits and limitations before reaching your conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The contrast marker “On the other hand” helps signal a shift, and examples are placed near the points they illustrate. However, progression is weakened because the second body paragraph moves from road construction to free car use and then to bus capacity, without clearly connecting these points to improving existing public transport. The first body paragraph also presents several claims in a list-like sequence. Some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “Also,” “For example,” and “So.” Organise each paragraph around one clear view, use references that make the relationship between ideas explicit, and explain how each example supports the paragraph’s main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “railway lines,” “traffic congestion,” “metropolitan area” and “round trips,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There is some variation in phrasing, but several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “travel very fast,” “use the road unconditionally” and “the rate of train accidents are less.” The repeated use of “new roads,” “train” and “costly” also limits flexibility. Choose more precise transport and policy language, and check common collocations: for example, people may “use roads freely,” while accident rates are “lower.” More accurate wording would help distinguish investment in high-speed rail from improvements to existing buses, trains and other services.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Your meaning is usually clear, and you attempt some complex forms, including the contrast in “Even though we build new roads…” and the conditional example beginning “if we look at the news.” However, sentence patterns are mostly simple, and errors remain in agreement, comparison and punctuation. For example, “the rate of train accidents are less” has a singular subject with a plural verb, while “creating new roads or expanding roads are costly than” has an unclear subject–verb relationship and an incomplete comparative structure. The conclusion also has no space after the full stop in “necessary.I.” Practise accurate comparative forms such as “less costly than,” check subject–verb agreement, and use a wider range of controlled complex sentences to explain cause and contrast.

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