Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous because it causes the driver to become distracted. Therefore, cell phone use by drivers should be made illegal.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Definitely, using handheld devices while driving is a dangerous act, it can distract drivers. Therefore some people believe that any usage of phone while driving, must be banned through some legal enforcement. I completely agree that using phone can distract drivers, specially, when the drivers are engaged through eye catching reels and scrolling through hands. In this essay I would support the restriction of using cell phones while driving but also explain some important aspect of using this technology.

On the one hand, smart phones bring lot of distractions such as reels, videos and social media posts. Frequent and consistent notifications and calls could disturb driver's focus from driving. Additionally, some drivers found using phones with their hands and try to watch videos while driving on fast pace. This could lead to a devastating consequences.

On the other hand, these phone bring up with some incredible features which make it essential to keep them while driving. Features such as Navigation, Emergency contacts, and Crash sensibility, help drivers not only driving smooth but also make journey more safe. Furthermore, these devices connect people through 21st century's essential need Internet. So, mobiles should not be restricted completely, unless, it has been used in any unsafe circumstances.

In my own experience, I noticed that cell phones assist me while driving through navigation and live location features. One day when I was completely lost amid of lockdown and I ran out of fuel and there were no fuel station near me. Although, I had no human assistance available but I count on my cell phone and call emergency services and able to share my location through which they can reach out to me easily.

Unless phones are used in safe manner, it could be a threat while driving same as any other technology could be. Therefore, I would suggest that a clear guideline must be levy by the government and automobile agencies should also intervene in it to make these guidelines more comprehensive.

To summarize, I would agree to restrict the usage of mobile devices while driving but up to a certain extent so that technology can be utilized in a safe manner.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position, although the stance is slightly contradictory. You argue for a ban but then suggest that phones should not be restricted completely. The ideas are relevant, such as the dangers of distraction versus the benefits of navigation and emergency features. However, the development is somewhat uneven; the argument for a total ban is weakened by the later focus on 'safe usage.' To reach a higher band, ensure your position remains consistent throughout the essay and provide more nuanced development of how these two opposing views can be reconciled, rather than simply stating both sides.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Furthermore' to signal transitions. However, some connections are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'So, mobiles should not be restricted completely, unless, it has been used in any unsafe circumstances.' Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between the personal anecdote and the general argument could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph flows naturally into the next will help elevate your score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including terms like 'legal enforcement,' 'devastating consequences,' and 'comprehensive.' However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'eye catching reels,' 'fast pace' (instead of 'high speed'), and 'levy by the government' (should be 'levied'). While these errors do not impede communication, they limit the precision of your argument. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more sophisticated vocabulary in a natural, contextually appropriate way.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('these phone bring up'), article misuse ('the drivers are engaged'), and punctuation errors (comma splices). For example, 'Definitely, using handheld devices while driving is a dangerous act, it can distract drivers' is a comma splice. While you attempt complex structures, they are often marred by these slips. To achieve a higher band, focus on proofreading for basic sentence boundaries and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound.

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.