Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers.
Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
In the future, all cars, buses, and trucks are expected to become driverless, meaning that people will travel only as passengers. Although this development may have some drawbacks, I believe its advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
On the one hand, driverless vehicles could create several challenges. One major concern is the loss of employment for millions of professional drivers, including taxi, bus, and truck drivers. As a result, many people could face financial difficulties and unemployment. Another disadvantage is that autonomous vehicles rely heavily on advanced technology. If a technical failure or cyberattack occurred, it could lead to serious accidents and threaten public safety. Therefore, ensuring the security and reliability of these systems would be essential.
On the other hand, the benefits of driverless vehicles are likely to be far greater. Firstly, they could significantly reduce road accidents because most crashes are caused by human errors such as speeding, distraction, or drunk driving. Self-driving technology can react more quickly and follow traffic rules consistently. Secondly, driverless vehicles would provide greater convenience for elderly people, individuals with disabilities, and those who are unable to drive. Furthermore, passengers could use their travel time more productively by reading, working, or relaxing instead of concentrating on the road.
In conclusion, while driverless vehicles may result in job losses and raise concerns about technological failures, I believe their ability to improve road safety, increase convenience, and make travelling more efficient means that the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, covering both economic concerns and safety benefits. However, the response is 242 words long, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the depth of development, as the arguments could have been further extended with more specific examples or nuanced analysis to reach a higher band. While the position is clear throughout, the brevity prevents a more comprehensive exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is logical. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' 'Firstly,' and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the opposing viewpoints. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a band 7 level of coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. You have used topic-specific terms such as 'autonomous vehicles,' 'cyberattack,' and 'professional drivers' effectively. The range is adequate to convey your ideas with precision. While there are no major errors in word choice, the vocabulary is functional rather than sophisticated. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate greater flexibility and stylistic awareness.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used conditional structures ('If a technical failure... occurred') and relative clauses effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. While the range of structures is solid, the essay lacks a wider variety of more complex, sophisticated grammatical forms that would be expected at the highest band levels. Overall, the control of grammar is consistent and reliable.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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