Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In the future, it is likely that cars, buses and trucks will operate without human drivers, meaning that passengers will be the only people inside these vehicles. Although this development may create some challenges, I believe that the advantages of driverless vehicles will outweigh the disadvantages.

One major advantage of driverless vehicles is that they could significantly improve road safety. Human drivers sometimes cause accidents because of tiredness, distraction, speeding or poor judgement. Automated vehicles, on the other hand, can use sensors and advanced computer systems to monitor the road continuously and react quickly to potential dangers. As a result, the number of accidents caused by human error could be reduced. In addition, driverless public transport could make travelling more convenient, particularly for elderly people and those who are unable to drive.

However, there are some disadvantages. One concern is unemployment, as professional drivers, such as taxi drivers, bus drivers and truck drivers, could lose their jobs. Another issue is that the technology may occasionally malfunction, creating serious safety risks. Nevertheless, these problems could be addressed through government regulations, safety testing and the creation of new jobs in technology and vehicle maintenance.

In conclusion, although driverless vehicles may cause job losses and raise concerns about technological failures, their potential to improve road safety, reduce congestion and make transportation more convenient means that I believe their advantages outweigh their disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, the essay is 229 words long, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the arguments regarding safety and unemployment are relevant, they are somewhat brief and lack the depth required for a higher band score. To improve, you should expand on your examples and provide more detailed explanations for your points to ensure the response is fully developed and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'Nevertheless' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between paragraphs is even smoother and that you vary your cohesive devices further to avoid a slightly mechanical feel.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'automated vehicles', 'potential dangers', and 'technological failures' correctly. The language is generally natural and precise enough to convey your meaning without difficulty. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is little evidence of less common or idiomatic vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and topic-specific academic vocabulary to demonstrate a wider lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your grammar is generally accurate, and there are very few errors that impede communication. You use complex structures, such as conditional-like clauses and relative clauses, effectively. The punctuation is also handled well. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to include a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or more varied subordinate clauses, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you have already achieved.

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

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