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 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 drive the car, which can have a significant impact on our financial resources, we are able to save our money. Additionally, supporters of this development argue that driverless cars tend to mitigate 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 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 causing numerous 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 enjoy 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, ultimately presenting a clear position in the conclusion. The ideas presented, such as financial savings, shared mobility, accident risks, and emergency limitations, are generally relevant to the prompt. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. For example, the claim that automated cars save money is vaguely tied to financial resources without clear explanation, and the point regarding emergency situations is slightly underdeveloped and circular. Despite these minor limitations in depth, the overall response covers the prompt adequately, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.0 rating.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing both sides of the issue, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and logical progression occasionally falter. For instance, the transition 'as a result, if cars are automated, individuals can buy a car with sharing' feels mechanical and slightly confusing regarding how sharing directly stems from automation. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments, ensuring that the essay is easily readable throughout, which aligns well with the descriptors for a Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully using terms such as 'contemporary society', 'proponents', 'mitigate traffic congestion', and 'artificial intelligence'. There are also attempts to incorporate less common lexical items, although some word choices and phrasing lack natural collocation or precision, such as 'buy a car with sharing' and 'enjoy more facilities in our daily life'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and occasional errors in lexical precision do not impede the communication of the writer's ideas, earning a solid Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writing exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over introductory subordinate clauses and conditional structures, as seen in 'Due to the fact that we do not need to drive the car... we are able to save our money.' There are several minor grammatical inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'lead to causing numerous accidents' and 'directly influencing the ability of people to face some serious difficulties in their emergency time.' Nonetheless, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede overall communication, supporting a Band 6.0 performance.

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