Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
In the future, it is likely that cars, buses and trucks will operate without human drivers. Although this development can have downsides, such as an increasing number of road accidents and a decline in employment among drivers, I believe that the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh their disadvantages.
On the one hand, the main disadvantage of using driverless vehicles is the possibility of an increasing number of accidents. Vehicles without human drivers may not be as reliable as professional drivers and may experience technical failures, particularly in heavy traffic. As a result, they may hit pedestrians or collide with other vehicles. Furthermore, there could be a significant decline in the number of jobs available to drivers. This could create unemployment, particularly among people who have limited qualifications. For example, if companies replace professional drivers with automated vehicles, many taxi, bus and truck drivers could lose their jobs.
On the other hand, there are numerous potential benefits of driverless vehicles. First, they could be more convenient for people who have demanding schedules and become tired after work. For example, these vehicles could allow office workers to travel home comfortably without having to concentrate on driving, giving them an opportunity to relax during their journey. Secondly, driverless vehicles could be highly beneficial for people with visual impairments or other physical limitations. For instance, elderly people who are no longer physically fit enough to drive could use automated vehicles to travel independently.
In conclusion, although driverless vehicles may create safety risks and reduce employment opportunities for professional drivers, their potential to provide greater convenience and independence for passengers means that I believe their advantages outweigh their disadvantages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of driverless vehicles and clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. The writer introduces relevant ideas in both body paragraphs, supporting them with logical explanations and examples, such as office workers relaxing and elderly people gaining independence. The arguments are well-developed throughout the essay, meeting the criteria for Band 7.0. To reach higher bands, the ideas could be extended with even greater depth or specific real-world examples, ensuring that potential counter-arguments are weighed more profoundly against the central thesis.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a well-defined introduction, followed by balanced body paragraphs addressing disadvantages and advantages respectively, and concluding with a clear summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Secondly' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is managed logically and appropriately. The structure is transparent and cohesive, easily earning a Band 7.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'technical failures', 'demanding schedules', 'visual impairments', and 'employment opportunities'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary items with general awareness of style and collocation, such as 'automated vehicles' and 'physical limitations'. Word choice is generally appropriate, and spelling is accurate throughout the text. Although the vocabulary control is solid, the range is slightly restricted to standard thematic collocations, preventing it from reaching the more flexible and sophisticated levels of a Band 8.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, featuring subordinate clauses and participial phrases such as 'giving them an opportunity to relax during their journey' and 'people who are no longer physically fit enough to drive'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is handled well throughout the essay. Grammatical control is strong, with only very minor awkwardness that does not impede communication in any way. The variety of structures and overall accuracy firmly place this performance within the Band 7.0 tier.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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