Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-23

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 6.0)

In recent times, people of many countries believe that it's crucial to construct new railway lines by spending large amounts of money so that bullet trains can move around between cities. While others argue that the money should be allocated for the improvement of current public transportation facilities. In my opinion, I agree with the latter statement because spending the money on existing public transport can solve many problems for the people who daily commute outside.

On the one hand, it's better for the government to spend the money on new projects for the welfare of people, such as constructing enhanced railway lines in between larger cities. This can allow many fast-moving trains, like bullet trains, to move around regardless of disturbing local transport. This facility will solve the problem of traffic congestion, as many people will rely on these trains to commute to their offices and homes. As a result, people will reach their destinations on time. Moreover, it will also be helpful for the government to attract the votes of local people by creating such facilities.

On the other hand, many people consider the government's decision on spending money on new projects a political strategy. They believe they should gain people's attention by investing the money on existing projects, such as improving the condition of public transport. For example, replacing the broken seats in public buses, improving the conditions of roads, and solving the problem of traffic congestion by increasing the quantity of public buses and cars will be beneficial for both parties. Hence, the government should plan to manage their resources by spending more on existing public transport rather than spending on new projects.

In conclusion, although spending money on constructing new railway paths can be helpful for the people to reach their destinations within time, the focus should be on improving the current conditions of public transport so many people can travel easily.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state a clear preference for improving existing transport, particularly in the introduction and conclusion. The discussion of new rail lines gives relevant benefits—reduced congestion and more reliable journeys—while the second body paragraph offers practical examples such as repairing bus seats and increasing services. However, some points are not fully developed: the claim that new rail projects attract votes is introduced without explaining its relevance to the transport choice, and the examples of improving existing transport could be linked more clearly to commuters’ needs. Develop each side with a specific explanation or example, and make the comparison supporting your opinion more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion that restates your position. Sequencing is generally easy to follow, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers navigate the argument. This organisation is effective, though some linking is mechanical and a few connections between ideas are not fully clear. For example, the point about attracting votes interrupts the explanation of the benefits of fast trains. The phrase “For example” introduces a useful list, but the relationship between increasing buses and cars and improving public transport could be explained more precisely. Use transitions that show cause, contrast, or consequence between specific ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “railway lines,” “traffic congestion,” “public transportation,” and “commute,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “allocate” and “welfare.” However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive: “move around between cities,” “railway paths,” and “reach their destinations within time” do not sound natural in this context. “Current” and “existing” are also repeated frequently. Aim for more precise transport-related collocations and vary repeated terms; this would make the argument sound more fluent and controlled without changing its meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses such as “because spending the money on existing public transport can solve many problems” and “although spending money on constructing new railway paths can be helpful.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. The opening uses a sentence fragment beginning “While others argue”; connect it to the preceding sentence or make it a complete sentence. In “people who daily commute outside,” the adverb placement and clause construction are awkward, and “the government should plan to manage their resources” has a pronoun-agreement issue. Review sentence boundaries, agreement, and clause structure while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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