Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-12
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 7.5)
It is predicted that autonomous vehicles will completely replace human drivers for cars, buses, and trucks in the near future. Although fully automated transport raises concerns regarding safety and unemployment, I believe the advantages, particularly improved road safety and convenience, outweigh these disadvantages.
On the one hand, the widespread adoption of driverless vehicles presents two main drawbacks. Firstly, the technology could cause severe job losses for professional drivers, such as taxi operators, bus drivers, and long-distance truckers. This sudden shift could lead to high unemployment rates in the transport sector. Secondly, autonomous systems rely entirely on complex software and sensors, which means they are vulnerable to technical glitches, cyberattacks, or unexpected weather conditions that could cause accidents.
On the other hand, the benefits of autonomous transport are far more significant. The primary advantage is a drastic reduction in road accidents. Since the majority of vehicle crashes are caused by human error, such as distracted driving, speeding, or fatigue, computer-controlled vehicles could follow traffic laws strictly and respond faster to hazards. Furthermore, driverless technology would increase daily efficiency and accessibility. Passengers could use their commute time productively to work, read, or relax instead of focusing on the road. Additionally, elderly individuals or people with disabilities who cannot drive would gain greater mobility and independence.
In conclusion, while driverless vehicles may create job losses for transport workers and pose minor technical risks, the benefits are much greater. Overall, the significant increase in road safety and personal convenience makes autonomous transportation a positive development for society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The arguments regarding safety, convenience, and accessibility are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of elderly individuals and the productivity of passengers. The counter-arguments regarding unemployment and technical risks are also clearly presented. The ideas are logically extended, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points. The response is balanced, providing a clear rationale for why the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, which satisfies the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the drawbacks and the benefits is handled smoothly using cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of linking words like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Furthermore', and 'Additionally' helps to guide the reader through your arguments effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct purpose in the overall structure. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural and easy to follow throughout the entire piece.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'widespread adoption', 'drastic reduction', 'human error', and 'autonomous systems' are used accurately and appropriately in context. There is an awareness of style and collocation, and the vocabulary is varied enough to avoid repetition. While the vocabulary is effective and clear, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band, perhaps by incorporating more nuanced academic collocations. However, the current range is more than adequate for a high-level response and conveys your meaning with clarity and precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional clauses ('if...') and relative clauses ('which means they are...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that impede communication. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms effectively to maintain interest and clarity. The grammatical accuracy is consistent throughout the text, reflecting a high level of proficiency. To reach a higher band, you could experiment with even more diverse sentence structures, but the current performance is very solid.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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