Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-03
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)
In today's evolving world, many people use a cell phone while driving in many countries. However, this behaviour can seriously distract drivers and increase the risk of accidents. I strongly agree that using cell phone while driving should be made illegal because it threatens road safety and can cause serious consequences for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
Out of all the arguments, one of the main reasons of banning cell phones use while driving is that is significantly reduces a drivers' attention. When people answer calls, send messages or check notifications, they more focus on phones rather than roads and around areas. Even a few seconds of distraction can prevent a driver from noticing a pedestrian, traffic light or another vehicle. For example, a driver who is reading a text message may fail to react when the car in front suddenly stops. Therefore, making such behaviour illegal could encourage motorists to concentrate filly on driving.
Another important reason is that mobile phone use can increase the likelihood of serious road accidents. Minor distractions, activities such as texting a message or check notifications drivers to look away from the road and use their hands. As a result, they may lose control and meet with major accidents. Furthermore, accidents caused by distracted driving can result in severe injuries or even death.
On the other hand, some individuals argue that drivers should allowed to use mobile phones through hands free systems because their hands remain on steering wheel. Moreover, in emergency situation people can use cell phones to call their family members or hospital, so that at that time they should allow to use their phones.
In conclusion, although during emergency situation people should allow to use the mobile phones, however I strongly agree that cell phone use by driver should be illegal. Since mobile phones can seriously reduce concentrtaion and increase the risk of accidents. Therefore, strick regulations and law should be made to protect drivers, passengers and other road users.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the task with a clear position stated in the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. Main ideas are extended and supported, such as explaining how a few seconds of distraction can prevent a driver from noticing a pedestrian or traffic light. However, there is a tendency to overgeneralize and some arguments could be more fully developed to reach the next level, as certain points repeat the core idea of reduced concentration without introducing deeper insights. The counterargument acknowledging hands-free systems and emergencies is present, helping to satisfy the requirements for a balanced approach, though the overall treatment of ideas remains at a solid, competent level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression throughout. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with distinct introduction, body, and conclusion sections. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are employed to connect ideas, though referencing is occasionally faulty or mechanical, as seen in repetitive transitional phrasing. The progression of thoughts is generally clear, but some sentences feel slightly disjointed due to mechanical linking rather than seamless textual flow, which places the organizational control between bands.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'pedestrians', 'likelihood', and 'concentrate'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors that reflect limitations, such as 'concentrtaion', 'strick', 'fully' instead of 'fully', and phrasing like 'activities such as texting a message or check notifications drivers'. While these errors do not impede communication, they demonstrate a lack of precision and control over less common lexical items, keeping the vocabulary score firmly within the adequate range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating structures like conditional or relative clauses. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly with verb forms, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions inside grammatical patterns. Examples include 'cell phone use by driver should be illegal', 'drivers should allowed to use', 'in emergency situation people can use', and 'at that time they should allow to use'. These errors in voice, modals, and articles occur consistently throughout the text, meaning that error-free sentences are not frequent enough to achieve a higher band.
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