Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-28
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)
In the future, it is likely that cars, buses and trucks will operate without human drivers, although this development can have downsides like more road accidents and less employment ratio among the driver community. I believe that the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh disadvantages.
On the one hand, the main disadvantage of using driverless vehicles is the increasing number of accidents. Vehicles without drivers are not more precise , like professional drivers may have technical faults ,particularly during heavy traffic . As a result, they may hit pedestrians or collide with other vehicles. Furthermore, there can be a significant decline in the number of jobs for drivers. This could create unemployment, particularly for the people who have limited qualifications. For example, Tesla is introducing driverless cars that are embedded with AI technology, but this is causing more unemployment.
On the other hand,there are numerous potential benefits of driverless cars. First, driverless vehicles are more convenient for the people who feel more tired and have hectic schedules. For example, these vehicles help office staff to reach their home more easily without becoming more exhausted and stressed. Secondly, using driverless vehicles is the most viable way for people with different mobility issues, like eyesightedness or some sort of disability. For instance, driverless vehicles can be used by elderly people who are not physically fit or who have any limitation.
In conclusion, although driverless vehicles can be a notable cause of accidents, nevertheless, the potential for convenience and help for people with physical limitations means that I believe their advantages outweigh their disadvantages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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, clearly stating a position in the introduction and reiterating it in the conclusion. The ideas presented are relevant, including points about accidents, employment rates, convenience for busy individuals, and mobility solutions for elderly or disabled passengers. However, some arguments lack deep extension. For instance, the example regarding Tesla is briefly mentioned without significant elaboration on how or why this impacts the broader employment market. Furthermore, the discussion on accidents tends to generalise slightly. Nevertheless, the position is clear throughout, and the main tenets of the task are adequately covered, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 6 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is utilised appropriately to separate contrasting views, with body paragraph two focusing on disadvantages and body paragraph three examining advantages. Cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader through the text, such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," and "Furthermore." However, some referencing is slightly clumsy, and mechanical transitions are occasionally noticeable, such as "Secondly, using driverless vehicles is the most viable way." Additionally, punctuation around commas and spacing requires attention in several places, but logical progression is maintained throughout, fitting the Band 6 descriptor well.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as "employment ratio," "technical faults," "hectic schedules," and "mobility issues." However, there are notable word choice and collocation inaccuracies throughout the text. For example, "less employment ratio among the driver community" is unnatural, and "eyesightedness" is non-standard phrasing compared to "visual impairment." Spelling is generally accurate, but vocabulary choice lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher band levels. Communication is not impeded by these lexical slips, making Band 6 an appropriate and fair evaluation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordination with structures like "although this development can have downsides" and "for the people who are not physically fit." However, grammatical errors and awkward punctuation are evident across the text. For instance, spacing errors before commas appear frequently (e.g., "precise ,"), and awkward phrasing occurs in clauses such as "Vehicles without drivers are not more precise , like professional drivers may have technical faults." Control over complex structures is somewhat inconsistent, leading to occasional awkwardness. Nevertheless, basic communication remains clear and the errors do not impede understanding, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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