Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-24

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)

nowadays , cell phones have become an essential part of daily life. however , using a cell phone while driving can seriously distract drivers and increase the risk of accidents. i strongly agree that cell phone use while driving should be made illegal because it threatens road safety and can cause serious accidents.

The main reason why i agree with this view is that cell phones significantly reduce a driver's concentration. when drivers send massages, make calls or check social media, their attention is diverted from the road. even a few seconds of distraction can prevent a driver from noticing a pedestrian , traffic signal or another vehicle . as a result's using a cell phone while driving can lead to dangerous collisions and serious injuries. therefore , banning this behaviour would encourage drivers to concentrate fully on driving.

another important reason is that strict laws can help protect other road users. a careless driver does not only put their own life at risk but can also endanger passengers , pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists. if using a cell phone while driving were illegal and offenders faced substantial

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 188 words long. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the essay ends abruptly mid-sentence. While you clearly state your position and provide two relevant reasons—distraction and the protection of other road users—the lack of length prevents a full development of these points. To improve, you must ensure you provide a complete, well-supported argument that reaches the minimum word count, including a clear conclusion that summarises your main points and restates your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'The main reason why' and 'another important reason' to link your arguments. However, the abrupt ending of the text disrupts the overall coherence, as there is no concluding paragraph. To achieve a higher band, ensure that your essay has a clear introduction, body paragraphs with well-developed supporting sentences, and a final conclusion that ties the arguments together. Additionally, ensure that punctuation is used correctly to avoid fragmented thoughts.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly, using terms like 'essential part', 'significantly reduce', 'diverted', and 'substantial'. However, there are some minor errors, such as 'massages' instead of 'messages' and 'as a result's' instead of 'as a result'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensure you proofread for spelling errors. Expanding your vocabulary to include more academic synonyms will also help you move into higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'if using a cell phone... were illegal'. However, there are consistent issues with basic punctuation and capitalisation, such as starting sentences with lowercase letters and missing commas. The sentence fragment at the end of the text also negatively impacts the grammatical accuracy. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these mechanical errors prevents a higher score. Focus on consistent capitalisation and ensuring that every sentence is complete with a subject and a verb.

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