Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-21

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)

Driverless vehicles are expected to become common in the future. While there are some concerns about this technology, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because it can improve road safety and make travelling more convenient.

One major advantage of driverless vehicles is that they could reduce the number of road accidents. Many accidents occur because of human errors such as speeding, careless driving or driving under the influence of alcohol. Autonomous vehicles would use advanced technology and sensors to avoid such mistakes. As a result, roads could become much safer for both drivers and pedestrians. Another benefit is convenience. People would be able to relax, work or even sleep while travelling instead of focusing on driving. This could save time and reduce stress, especially during long journeys.

However, there are also some disadvantages. One concern is that many people who work as drivers, such as taxi drivers and truck drivers, could lose their jobs if driverless vehicles become widely used. In addition, technology is not always perfect. Software failures or cyberattacks could cause serious problems and put passengers at risk. Some people may also feel uncomfortable trusting a machine to control a vehicle.

Despite these drawbacks, I believe the benefits are greater. Technology is continuously improving, and safety systems are becoming more reliable. Governments and companies could also provide training programmes to help workers find new jobs if automation affects employment.

In conclusion, although driverless vehicles may lead to job losses and technological risks, I believe their ability to reduce accidents and make travel easier means that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

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 are relevant and logically developed, with clear arguments for safety and convenience contrasted against concerns regarding job displacement and technological failure. The response is well-balanced, providing sufficient support for each point. To reach a higher band, the student could further extend the development of the counter-arguments, perhaps by discussing specific mitigation strategies for job losses in more detail, which would demonstrate a more sophisticated level of critical thinking and task engagement.

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 advantages and disadvantages is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'In addition', and 'Despite these drawbacks' are used effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text, meeting the requirements for a high-level response in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terminology such as 'autonomous vehicles', 'human errors', 'cyberattacks', and 'automation' correctly. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated, idiomatic, or less common lexical items that would characterize a band 8 or 9 response. The word choices are accurate and contribute to a clear, professional tone. There are no significant errors in spelling or word formation, and the language used is precise enough to convey the intended meaning without ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'While there are some concerns about this technology, I believe that...' and 'People would be able to relax, work or even sleep while travelling instead of focusing on driving.' The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of the sentences. The writing is fluent and easy to follow, and the control over complex sentence forms is consistent, which is a hallmark of a band 7 performance.

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

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