Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-15

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 5.5)

The topic of driverless cars has become a widely discussed issue in c contemporary society. Some people believe that it has several advantages, whereas others argue that it may have certain drawbacks. This essay will critically evaluate the key benefits and drawbacks before reaching a well- reasoned conclusion.

On the one hand, proponents of driverless vehicles primarily contend that automated cars are more likely to make our lives easier. Due to the fact that we do not need to the driver for driving the car, which can have a significant impact on our financial resources, because we are able to save our money. Additionally, supporters of this development argue that driverless cars tend to mitigate the traffic congestion; as a result, if cars are automated, individuals can buy a car with sharing. Therefore, by sharing cars, we are more likely to minimise the number of vehicles. A pertinent illustration of this can be seen in developed countries, where they are already utilizing the driverless cars, thereby highlighting the tangible benefits of this approach.

On the other hand, one significant drawback of this driverless car is that it can increase the number of accidents. This is because a driverless car would be run by using artificial intelligence, which can ultimately lead to facing a lot of accidents. Another key explanation is that driverless cars will not be able to go to the exact destination; therefore, we are destined to face some serious problems, directly influencing the ability of people to face some serious difficulties in their emergency time.

In conclusion, after examining these arguments, I am convinced that the benefits are far more significant. While various dimensions surround this issue, the analysis above makes it clear that the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks, primarily because we will obtain more facilities in our daily life through automated cars. Therefore, this remains the most practical path forward.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of driverless vehicles and presents a clear position throughout the essay. The response follows a conventional structure with an introduction, body paragraphs covering benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. However, the ideas are somewhat limited and under-developed. For instance, the discussion on advantages mentions saving money and reducing traffic congestion through car-sharing, but these points remain fairly superficial and lack robust elaboration. Similarly, the disadvantages concerning accidents caused by artificial intelligence and the inability to reach exact destinations in emergencies are stated rather than fully explored with compelling examples. Therefore, this performance aligns well with the Band 6 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure. The writer uses basic cohesive devices to connect ideas, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Additionally', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For example, the sentence 'Due to the fact that we do not need to the driver for driving the car...' creates a confusing cohesive link, and the connection between traffic congestion and car-sharing is slightly disjointed ('individuals can buy a car with sharing'). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate introduction, body arguments, and conclusion, but the logical progression within the body paragraphs occasionally stumbles due to awkward phrasing. Overall, the organizational framework meets the criteria for Band 6.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as 'c contemporary', 'proponents', 'mitigate', and 'tangible benefits'. However, there are notable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and phrasing throughout the text. Examples include 'c contemporary society' (typographical error), 'we do not need to the driver for driving the car', and 'facing a lot of accidents' rather than 'causing' or 'being involved in' accidents. While these lexical slips and awkward collocations occasionally detract from the precision of the argument, they do not severely impede overall communication, placing this response securely in the Band 6 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing dependent clauses and conditional structures. However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several noticeable errors, such as 'we do not need to the driver for driving the car', 'utilizing the driverless cars' (unnecessary definite article), and 'directly influencing the ability of people to face some serious difficulties in their emergency time'. Furthermore, the phrase 'be able to go to the exact destination; therefore, we are destined to face some serious problems' contains awkward phrasing and structural awkwardness. While punctuation is generally acceptable and basic sentences are often correct, the frequent errors in complex structures mean the performance sits comfortably at Band 5.5.

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