Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-11

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 6.5)

It is often argued that utilization of the mobile phones is prone to accidents as the drivers can easily divert their attention. Hence, I strongly agree that such actions should be legally prohibited as the splitting the focus results in visual and cognitive distraction which can ultimately lead to severe life threatening accidents.

When the driver is using the phone and driving especially at the highway at the speed of more than 90 km/hr, even the distraction of 5 seconds can lead to the person driving blindly for quite a few kilometers. This few kilometers can end the driver in the edge of the road or end up in severe collision with the other traffic which will ultimately cause accidents. I had a horrible experience with an uber driver where he was constantly monitoring for another ride and texting people to stay nearby which led the vehicle to run all over the road. Luckily there was a police officer in the patrol who caught him and imposed him with heavy fine and demerit points. Only after that, he drove with full concentration on the road and i felt safer.

Another reason is that is while using the phones, especially after a long day at work, just speaking hands free, can cause a lot of load in the head. This can lead to delayed response in responding to the traffic lights, stopping cars or pedestrian walking in the road. And we know it is just a matter of second which can cause critical injuries if we do not step on the brake foot at time. For instance, if it is snowing heavily, and we were talking with someone and got distracted while driving. However, we saw the obstacle in the last minute and pressed the brake heavily, then it might help to dodge the obstacle but the vehicle can slip heavily which is further damage to the property and can cause severe injuries to the driver and also the people near them.

In conclusion, driving is an activity that requires all of your attention and a little bit of distraction can cause lethal consequences not only to the person behind the wheel but also to the people sharing the road. Hence, imposing the law where using the cell phone is prohibited can cause a fear among the drivers of losing not only money but even losing the license can help save life of many people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout. The arguments regarding cognitive distraction and the potential for accidents are well-developed. The personal anecdote about the Uber driver provides relevant support, and the second body paragraph effectively discusses the impact of fatigue and environmental factors. The ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion reinforces the initial stance. To reach a higher band, the student could ensure that the link between the 'legal prohibition' and the 'fear of losing a license' is explored with slightly more nuance regarding enforcement challenges.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Hence', 'Another reason is that', and 'For instance' are used to guide the reader. However, there are minor issues with flow; for example, the transition in the second paragraph ('This few kilometers can end the driver...') is slightly clunky. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be tightened to improve the overall progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey ideas with precision. Phrases like 'cognitive distraction', 'lethal consequences', and 'severe collision' are used effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'splitting the focus' (better: 'divided attention') and 'load in the head' (better: 'mental fatigue' or 'cognitive load'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophisticated, natural collocation required for higher bands. The errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'utilization of the mobile phones' (article usage), 'imposed him with heavy fine' (preposition/article error), and 'step on the brake foot' (awkward phrasing). While the student attempts complex structures, some are slightly faulty, such as the sentence starting with 'And we know it is just a matter of second'. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout, and the punctuation is generally functional.

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

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