Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-30

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)

In today's world, a mobile phone has become the need of every person. However, the vast majority of cell phone use can create a lot of trouble for people while driving vehicles. Some say cell phones should be illegal. Now I will discuss both sides of the viewpoint in the upcoming paragraphs.

To begin with, nowadays people are using mobile phones while driving; it can leads towards accident. For Example, when people are going anywhere on the road and they are talking with anyone while driving, it may cause them to lose their attention because their full attention would be on the phone, and they can not give proper focus on driving, which can become the reason of mishappening. Another disadvantage is that they can lose their life due to this careless behaviour.

Turning to the other hand, if drivers use cell phones while using vehicles, then the government should impose a high fine on them so they can not do this kind of thing in future. Second is government should take their driving license away so it will set a good example in front of other people also.

Conclusion: Having discussed both sides of the arguments, I conclude that cell phone can create a big problem for drivers, so they should use them wisely during driving.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you address the prompt by discussing the dangers of cell phone use and suggesting penalties, the arguments are underdeveloped. You mention discussing 'both sides,' but the prompt asks for your opinion on whether it should be illegal, and your response lacks a clear, consistent position. The conclusion is brief and does not effectively summarize the arguments presented. To improve, you must expand your points with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the minimum length requirement to allow for full development of your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited (e.g., 'To begin with,' 'Turning to the other hand,' 'Second is'). The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. While there is a logical progression of ideas, the lack of depth and the short length make the overall flow feel disjointed. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects back to your main argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'a lot of trouble,' 'mishappening,' and 'big problem.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'mishappening' (which is not standard in this context) and 'careless behaviour.' To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to road safety and legal enforcement, and avoid repetitive or overly simple word choices.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'it can leads towards accident' should be 'it can lead to accidents,' and 'they can not give proper focus on driving' is slightly awkward. There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and pluralization will help improve your accuracy.

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

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