Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-10

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)

Nowadays, technology is developing very quickly, and in the future, cars, buses and trucks may become driverless. This means that there will be no drivers inside these vehicles and all the people will travel as passengers. In my opinion, driverless vehicles have some important advantages, but I believe their disadvantages are greater.

There are several advantages of driverless vehicles. First of all, they can reduce the number of road accidents. Human drivers sometimes make mistakes because they are tired, sleepy, angry or using their mobile phones. However, driverless vehicles are controlled by computers and sensors, so they can follow traffic rules more carefully. For example, a computer does not become tired after driving for many hours. Secondly, passengers can use their travelling time for other activities. They can read books, do office work, watch videos or relax while travelling. This can be very useful for people who have long journeys every day.

On the other hand, there are some serious disadvantages. The biggest problem is that technology can sometimes fail. If the computer system, camera or sensors have a problem, the vehicle may not work properly and this could cause a dangerous accident. Another disadvantage is unemployment. Millions of people work as taxi drivers, bus drivers and truck drivers. If all vehicles become driverless, many of these people could lose their jobs. This may create financial difficulties for their families.

In conclusion, driverless vehicles can make roads safer and travelling more comfortable. However, technology failures and unemployment are serious problems. Therefore, I believe that the disadvantages of driverless vehicles outweigh their advantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, with clear arguments for both sides. The discussion on road safety and productivity as advantages is well-supported, as is the counter-argument regarding technological failure and unemployment. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more depth in the analysis, perhaps by discussing the societal impact of these changes in greater detail or by exploring the transition period between human-driven and autonomous vehicles. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Secondly', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow of the argument is consistent throughout, making the essay coherent and easy to read. No major issues with cohesion were noted.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'driverless vehicles', 'computer system', and 'sensors' appropriately. While the range is adequate, it is somewhat functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more precise or academic collocations and less common vocabulary to demonstrate a wider range. For example, instead of 'big problem', using 'significant drawback' or 'critical challenge' would elevate the tone. The spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly. The student successfully uses conditional structures ('If the computer system... have a problem, the vehicle may not work...') and modal verbs to express opinions and possibilities. While the grammatical range is solid, it lacks the variety of more complex, sophisticated structures that would be expected at a higher band level. However, the errors are rare and do not impede communication at all.

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

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