Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-16

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)

In the near future, it is highly likely that driverless cars, buses and trucks will become widely used, with artificial intelligence taking over the role of the driver. Although such vehicles offer greater convenience, I believe that the potential risks associated with them outweigh their advantages.

One major advantage of driverless vehicles is the comfort and convenience they provide. Since they do not require manual operation, passengers would not need to concentrate on tasks such as changing gears, operating the clutch or controlling the accelerator and brakes. As a result, they could simply sit back and relax during their journeys. This would be particularly beneficial on long trips, as passengers could spend their travelling time on other activities without experiencing the physical exhaustion associated with driving. For example, people could work on their laptops, read books or watch films while travelling, provided that the vehicles operate safely.

On the other hand, the main disadvantage is that people cannot completely rely on automated technology. Although artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly advanced, technical failures and malfunctions can still occur, and mistakes made by an automated system could have serious or even fatal consequences. By contrast, a human driver can make immediate decisions in unexpected situations and take direct control of the vehicle when necessary. For example, if an automated system failed to recognise an animal or an unexpected obstacle on the road, a human driver might be able to identify the danger and brake or change direction accordingly.

Therefore, while driverless vehicles could make travelling more comfortable and convenient, the possibility of technological failures and the potentially serious consequences of such errors are significant disadvantages. In my view, these risks outweigh the benefits of greater comfort and convenience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both advantages and disadvantages of driverless vehicles and presenting a clear, well-developed position throughout. In the introduction, the writer states that the potential risks outweigh the advantages, and this stance is maintained consistently. The body paragraphs effectively develop relevant ideas. For instance, the first body paragraph explores the comfort and convenience of autonomous transport, citing specific examples such as passengers working on laptops, reading, or relaxing instead of driving. The second body paragraph examines the main disadvantage, focusing on technological failures and the critical role of human decision-making in unexpected situations. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and examples, fulfilling the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introduction that outlines the writer's stance, moving into body paragraphs that systematically address advantages and disadvantages, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally to connect ideas, such as "Although such vehicles offer greater convenience", "As a result", "On the other hand", and "Therefore". Paragraphing is managed appropriately, with each new idea or argument cleanly separated into its own paragraph. Referencing is clear and unambiguous, ensuring the reader can effortlessly follow the progression of arguments from sentence to sentence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, demonstrating flexibility and precision. Phrases such as "artificial intelligence taking over the role of the driver", "physical exhaustion", "technical failures and malfunctions", and "fatal consequences" show a good command of less common lexical items with an awareness of collocation and academic style. Word choice is generally accurate, and spelling is correct throughout. Although the vocabulary is somewhat standard for this topic rather than highly sophisticated or rare, it allows the writer to convey precise meanings smoothly and effectively without any noticeable awkwardness or hesitation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a strong control of grammar and punctuation, successfully employing a wide range of complex sentence structures. Examples include concessive clauses ("Although such vehicles offer greater convenience, I believe..."), conditional structures ("if an automated system failed to recognise an animal..."), and participial phrases ("Since they do not require manual operation..."). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout the essay. Any minor slips are extremely rare and do not impede communication in any way, reflecting a high level of grammatical accuracy and structural flexibility.

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