Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-16
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)
It is widely believed that in the upcoming years, all modes of transportation including cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. This innovation could make driving more accessible to the disabled and also provide more comfort overall to those travelling long distances or during the night. However, some people argue that it could also lead to more accidents in case of failure of software inside the car. I personally think that the advantages of driverless cars outweigh the disadvantages.
People who are visually impaired or have motor disabilities are unable to drive themselves and either need someone to drive them or have to resort to public transportation. This sometimes result in unnecessary delays but with the integration of driverless cars like Tesla equipped with sensors like GPS and sound sensors could allow them to reach their destinations without any problem.
Automatic cars could also prove to be exceptionally useful to people who have to travel long distances during the night. The software inside the car can make estimates about the upcoming traffic, pick short routes and could also park in case of emergencies. This greatly reduces the chances of accidents in comparison to drivers who have to manually drive their cars during the night.
While automatic cars can make driving easier and accessible, it could also lead to extreme tragedies like death if something goes wrong inside the software or if it is met up with an unexpected situation. For instance, if given a choice to drive straight into another car, the automated software might choose to stop in the middle of the highway which could potentially lead to a chain of accidents.
Nevertheless, automatics cars like Tesla are now a lot more common and it won't be wrong to say that this might be the future of cars as it improves accessibility, comfort and makes driving safe.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas regarding accessibility for disabled individuals and safety benefits during night travel are relevant and well-supported. The counter-argument regarding software failure is also addressed, though the development of the 'disadvantages' section is slightly less detailed than the advantages. The essay maintains a consistent focus on the topic throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarises the writer's stance. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more nuanced examples or explore the societal implications of driverless technology in greater depth.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as accessibility or safety concerns. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However', 'Nevertheless', and 'For instance', which help guide the reader through the argument. While the progression of ideas is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, ensuring the overall structure remains clear and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'visually impaired', 'motor disabilities', and 'automated software'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'met up with an unexpected situation' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'extreme tragedies' (which is a bit hyperbolic). However, the range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. To improve, the student should focus on more precise collocations and avoid slightly informal phrasing to achieve a more academic tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'This sometimes result' (subject-verb agreement) and 'if it is met up with' (awkward passive construction). Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. The use of complex sentences is present, though control is not always consistent. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement would help elevate the score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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