Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-11

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 6.5)

In the contemporary world, technological advancements have significantly transformed our lives. Automated driverless vehicles are very popular among everyone. In the coming years, to operate vehicles on the road, there will be no human intervention required. Also the people travelling in them will be passengers. In the subsequent paragraphs, I will discuss the pros and drawbacks for this.

One of the foremost benefits of driverless modes of transport is that they allow individuals to relax and use their travelling time more productively. Since passengers do not need to concentrate on driving or remain highly attentive to the road, they can spend their journey doing activities that would otherwise be impossible while driving. For example, they could read a book, prepare or eat a meal, sip tea or coffee with snacks, listen to music, or have a conversation with family members. This could make travelling less tiring and provide people with valuable leisure time, particularly during long journeys. For instance, a person travelling in a self-driving car could use the journey to read a book or talk to family members instead of concentrating on driving. Therefore, driverless vehicles could make daily travel more comfortable and enjoyable.

On the other hand, completely relying on automated cars, buses and trucks puts human life in danger. On daily bases, millions of people travel by public transport, any malfunctioning in software could harm the lives of several humans. Highly depended on such vehicles could be life threatening for a person who is travelling in public transport such as buses or either their owned vehicle. For example, if the navigation system or sensors of a driverless bus or car suddenly malfunction, the vehicle could fail to detect an obstacle or respond appropriately, potentially causing a serious accident and putting the lives of passengers at risk. Therefore, despite the convenience offered by driverless transport, technical failures can make excessive impact on these vehicles and serious threat to passenger safety.

In conclusion, driverless vehicles provide several benefits and convenience. However, a small defect, software malfunction or file corruption potentially cause a life threatening situation. Therefore, I believe the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the potential for increased productivity versus the risk of software malfunctions. However, the development of the 'advantages' section is slightly repetitive, as the example of reading a book is mentioned twice in the same paragraph. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point adds new depth to the argument rather than restating the same concept. Overall, the position is consistent and the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'One of the foremost benefits,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages and disadvantages. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is clear, and the progression of ideas from the benefits of leisure time to the risks of technical failure is logical and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and allows for clear communication. You use some topic-specific terms like 'technological advancements,' 'human intervention,' and 'navigation system.' However, there are some instances of awkward phrasing or minor inaccuracies, such as 'make excessive impact on these vehicles' and 'highly depended on such vehicles.' To improve, focus on more precise collocations and word choices. The range is sufficient to discuss the topic, but incorporating more sophisticated or less common lexical items would help elevate the score to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, which is positive. However, there are recurring grammatical errors, such as 'On daily bases' (should be 'On a daily basis') and 'Highly depended on such vehicles' (should be 'Highly depending on' or 'A high dependence on'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and phrasing issues, such as 'buses or either their owned vehicle.' While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring grammatical accuracy is recommended.

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

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