Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-01

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 6.5)

In many countries people believe that investing a large amount of money on building new infrastructure for trains to run faster between different cities is a necessity while, a few of them disagree with the statement and think that the transport already existing for public should be improved. Whilst both arguments can be true, I personally believe that spending on new railway lines is a good initiative but the ones that are already running shouldn't be neglected either.

Firstly, setting up fresh railway lines to run between cities will be a good initiative, especially for cities with high population density as more railway tracks will lead to increase in the number of trains running per day which will ultimately help in managing the crowd meant for a single train. Besides, it will also save time as more trains will be available in a single slot of time and people will not have to wait for hours if they miss a train. For example, in a crowded city like Delhi, building new railway lines will help people escape the congested roads and travel easily.

On the contrary, if the budget set for new railways is used in improving the existing public transport, it will benefit people as well. But the transportation should be improved in a way that will benefit citizens more than building new railway lines such as making them more affordale, renovating the interiors, making the seats more comfortable for long journeys, and alloting the busses or other vehicles to remote areas. These basic necessities will not only improve the quality of life but also make any travel safe and comfortable. For instance, people will choose to travel in a bus that is more comfortable than in a train which might be cheaper but offers less comfort.

In conclusion, whether governments choose to spend money on constructing new railways or improving the older infrastructure depends entirely on public demand. If people choose to travel more by trains, then building new lines is a better option. But if it is the other case, then investing in prexisting vehicles is a smart choice.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and state a clear position: new railway lines are worthwhile, but existing services should not be neglected. The discussion of new lines gives relevant reasons, including reducing crowding and waiting times, and the Delhi example helps illustrate the point. The second view is also supported with practical improvements such as affordability, comfort, and service to remote areas. However, the argument is not fully developed in places: the link between adding tracks and increasing train frequency is asserted rather than explained, and the bus-versus-train example does not clearly show how improving existing transport compares with high-speed rail. Your conclusion makes the choice depend on public demand, which is reasonable but leaves your own preferred balance less definite than in the introduction.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “Firstly,” “On the contrary,” and “In conclusion” help readers identify the stages of the discussion. This organisation is effective, though some linking is a little mechanical, and the contrast introduced by “On the contrary” is not quite exact because the second view is an alternative rather than a direct contradiction of every point in the first. Some references could also be clearer: “the statement” and “the other case” require readers to infer precisely which position is meant. To strengthen cohesion, use more varied transitions and connect each example explicitly to the argument it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “railway lines,” “public transport,” “population density,” “congested roads,” and “remote areas.” These choices make the subject clear, and some phrases show an attempt to be precise. However, several expressions are awkward or inaccurate in collocation or spelling, such as “transport already existing for public,” “a single slot of time,” and “prexisting vehicles.” “Affordale” and “alloting” also contain spelling errors. These do not prevent understanding, but they limit the naturalness and precision of the vocabulary. Aim for established transport-related phrases and check spelling carefully; for example, describe existing public transport as “current public transport services” and use “allocate buses” rather than “allot the busses.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses such as “especially for cities with high population density as…” and conditional structures in the conclusion. Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and the paragraph-level structure supports readability. Some grammatical and punctuation errors remain. In the opening sentence, the comma after “while” is misplaced, and “a few of them disagree” has an unclear pronoun reference. In “will lead to increase,” the article is missing; “will lead to an increase” is needed. The phrase “the transportation should be improved in a way that will benefit citizens more than building new railway lines” also has an awkward comparison structure. Review articles, punctuation around linking words, and parallel comparisons to improve control.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.