Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In the future, cars, buses and trucks may become driverless, and people will only travel as passengers. Although this development could have some disadvantages, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

One major advantage of driverless vehicles is that they could make roads safer. Human drivers sometimes cause accidents because of tiredness, carelessness or using their phones while driving. Driverless vehicles would use computer systems and sensors to control the vehicle and avoid many human mistakes. For example, a self-driving car could automatically slow down if another vehicle suddenly comes in front of it. This could reduce the number of road accidents.

Another benefit is that people could save time during travelling. Passengers would not need to focus on driving, so they could read, work or relax during their journey. This could be especially useful for people who travel long distances every day. In addition, elderly or disabled people could travel more easily without needing someone to drive them.

However, there are also some disadvantages. The biggest concern is that the technology could fail because of a computer problem, sensor failure or poor road conditions. This could lead to serious accidents. Another problem is that many professional drivers, such as truck and bus drivers, could lose their jobs if vehicles become completely automated.

In conclusion, driverless vehicles may cause some problems, particularly regarding safety and employment. However, I believe their ability to reduce human errors, improve road safety and make travelling more convenient means that the advantages are greater than the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.5
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of driverless vehicles and presenting a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and supported with appropriate explanations and examples, such as mentioning human error reduction and the benefits for elderly or disabled passengers. The stance is maintained consistently throughout the essay, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving from the introduction to the advantages, disadvantages, and a well-synthesised conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'Another benefit', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the arguments, though referencing and transitions are somewhat standard rather than sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision with terms like 'automated', 'convenient', and 'sensor failure'. While the vocabulary is largely standard and functional rather than exceptionally advanced, it communicates the ideas effectively. There are no notable spelling or word-choice errors, which reflects solid control at the Band 6.5 to 7 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. Examples of complex structures include conditional clauses and relative clauses, such as 'Although this development could have some disadvantages, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.' Grammar and punctuation are handled well, and the minor errors present do not impede communication. The control shown aligns comfortably with a Band 7.

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

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