Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-29
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 5.0)
The use of mobile phone during the driving of vehicle is not safe because it can lead to any mishappening of life. In my opinion it should be prohibited by higher authorities or can be fined by the safety officers.
On the first glance, if a person is on using the phone while driving on the highways that can lead to any accident at time because roads are always a busy during day or nights.
Also, it can affect your life as well and person can be easily distracted by it and affect others lives as well.
Moreover, use of cell phones shouldn't be illegal. In any case of emergency, the person needs a phone. But there should be fine on doing this. Higher authorities and safety officers have to make the laws,rules and poilcies for using the devices on the roads.
On wrapping up my opinion, to reduce the use of devices for ongoing driving there should be other alternative device that can be use by drivers during the trip.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The student attempts to address the prompt regarding whether cell phone use while driving should be made illegal, presenting a somewhat contradictory position. Initially, the writer states it should be prohibited or fined, later argues it shouldn't be illegal due to emergencies, and concludes by suggesting alternative devices. Furthermore, the response is critically under-length at only 171 words compared to the required 250 words. This severe word count deficit directly impacts idea development, resulting in points that are merely touched upon rather than fully extended and supported. For example, the mention that 'roads are always a busy' is not sufficiently unpacked. Consequently, the response earns a band score of 4.0 for failing to meet the minimum length requirement and only minimally addressing the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay displays some basic organizational structure with clear paragraph breaks, but the overall progression of ideas is hindered by contradictions and weak cohesive devices. The writer attempts to link sentences using transitional markers such as 'On the first glance', 'Also', 'Moreover', and 'On wrapping up my opinion'. However, some of these phrases are unnatural or incorrectly used, and referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the pronoun shifts ('affect your life as well and person can be easily distracted'). Paragraphing is attempted, but the ideas within paragraphs lack smooth logical transitions. Because information and ideas are not arranged in a fully coherent or progressively logical manner, the response fits the descriptor profile for a Band 5 in coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, featuring frequent word-choice errors and awkward phrasing. Examples include 'mishappening of life' instead of accidents or fatalities, 'on using the phone' instead of using the phone, and 'ongoing driving' instead of while driving. While the student attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'prohibited', 'authorities', and 'alternative device', inaccuracies in collocation and word formation ('poilcies') restrict the range and precision. The lexical errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader and reflect a limited vocabulary range suitable for a Band 5.0 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying primarily on simple sentences alongside a few attempts at complex structures that are frequently faulty. Noticeable grammatical errors include missing articles and prepositions ('during the driving of vehicle', 'on the highways', 'a busy'), incorrect verb tenses and auxiliary usage ('shouldn't be illegal' contradicted by 'there should be fine'), and spelling mistakes ('poilcies'). These frequent errors can cause difficulty and strain for the reader, though the core meaning of the sentences can usually be deciphered. This performance aligns with the Band 5 descriptors for grammatical range and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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