Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

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 often argued that, in the future, different types of vehicles will no longer need drivers and that the only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers. In my opinion, although driverless vehicles may provide environmental benefits, their disadvantages, particularly unemployment and an increased number of accidents, outweigh the advantages.

One of the major advantages of driverless transportation systems is the potential reduction in carbon emissions. The development of driverless vehicles may encourage the production and use of electric vehicles, which can reduce our dependence on petrol and diesel-powered transport. Electric vehicles generally produce fewer direct carbon emissions than conventional vehicles, helping to protect the environment. As a result, the widespread use of such vehicles could contribute to reducing the effects of global warming in the long run.

There are, however, some significant disadvantages as well. One of the most pressing problems would be the loss of jobs for many people in the future who depend on driving for their livelihood. For example, bus, taxi and truck drivers could become unemployed if these vehicles were operated entirely by automated systems. This large number of unemployed people could create an avoidable financial burden on governments, which may need to provide financial support or retraining programmes. Another drawback is the potential increase in road accidents and casualties. For instance, technical problems with navigation systems, sensors or software could cause driverless vehicles to malfunction and result in accidents involving both passengers and pedestrians. Although automated systems can react quickly, technical failures may lead to serious consequences when there is no human driver to take immediate control. Therefore, such risks could affect people's quality of life in the future.

In conclusion, although driverless vehicles may help reduce carbon emissions and contribute to environmental protection, I believe that these benefits do not outweigh the disadvantages of increased unemployment and the potential risks of accidents associated with automated transportation systems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have taken a clear position from the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The arguments regarding environmental benefits (advantages) and unemployment/safety concerns (disadvantages) are relevant and well-developed. Each paragraph provides sufficient explanation and examples, such as mentioning specific professions like bus and taxi drivers, which adds depth to your argument. The conclusion effectively summarises your stance and reinforces the main points discussed. The response is balanced and demonstrates a strong understanding of the prompt requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'One of the major advantages', 'There are, however, some significant disadvantages', and 'In conclusion'. Referencing is clear, and the use of linking words is natural rather than mechanical. The paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct arguments, which helps the reader follow your line of reasoning without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'dependence on petrol and diesel-powered transport', 'avoidable financial burden', and 'automated transportation systems' show a good command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for an academic context, it stays within a fairly standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common idiomatic expressions, though your current usage is precise and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('if these vehicles were operated...') and concessive clauses ('although driverless vehicles may...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and your control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text.

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