Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17

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 7.0)

Cars, buses and trucks are likely to be automated in the future and only passengers will be present in these vehicles when commuting. Although driverless vehicles have some drawbacks, I believe that their benefits outweigh the drawbacks because they reduce human error and improve productivity.

Driverless transportation is becoming increasingly popular, as technology and Artificial Intelligence are advancing. AI has a very quick reaction time and it is also very precise and accurate, which solves the problem of human drivers becoming distracted, tired or slow to react to sudden hazards. Hence, companies such as Tesla are using AI to make vehicles driverless, which leads to fewer traffic collisions and better road safety. For example, research states that there is a 30% lower chance of a traffic accident involving an autonomous car compared to traditional vehicle with drivers. Furthermore, when people are travelling in an automated car, they can do their work or study in the meantime without having to worry about driving.

The main disadvantage of self-driving automobiles is that this could lead to higher unemployment among professional drivers. If all vehicles become unmanned in the future, then there will no longer be a need of drivers. People with only driving skills will become unemployed and they will face difficulties earning a living. For instance, China started self-driving taxi services in several major cities. As a result, demand for professional drivers could decline. However, this disadvantage can be managed by proactive career transition programs.

To conclude, although automated vehicles have some drawbacks like unemployment, I firmly advocate that their advantages, such as reducing human errors and increasing overall productivity outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. The ideas regarding safety and productivity are well-developed, and the counter-argument regarding unemployment is balanced with a potential solution. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more detailed; for instance, the reference to 'research' could be more specific to strengthen your argument. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the question regarding whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Hence', and 'To conclude' effectively to link your points. The transition between the advantages and the disadvantage is smooth, using 'However' to signal the shift. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows naturally from one point to the next. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a somewhat mechanical feel in the transition between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Terms such as 'automated', 'unmanned', 'proactive', and 'career transition' are used accurately and appropriately in context. There is a good attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary related to technology and transport. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a degree of sophistication or idiomatic flair that would be expected at the highest band levels. However, the word choices are consistently accurate and contribute to a clear, professional tone throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For example, the use of conditional structures ('If all vehicles become unmanned...') and complex sentences with subordinate clauses ('Although automated vehicles have some drawbacks...') shows good control. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. To aim for a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as passive voice constructions or more sophisticated inversion, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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