Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-01

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)

It is predicted that technology will completely replace humans

drivers. In today's world, technology such as driverless cars has both advantages and disadvantages. In this essay I will discuss both.

Some people argue that this kind of technology will prove beneficial for the world. While others argue that this technology also has drawbacks. I strongly believe that cars should not be driverless. To begin with, millions of drivers worldwide are employed in transport companies. Transitioning to completely driverless transport will eliminate millions of driving jobs worldwide. Millions of delivery drivers, truck drivers, and taxi operators worldwide will need to find entirely new sources of income.

Secondly, in driverless cars a minor software fault can become a cause of serious accidents on a highway. Current self-driving technology struggles heavily in severe weather. Heavy rain, fog and snowstorms can blind vehicles' cameras and sensors.

The transition to driverless cars also has some benefits. Firstly, autonomous vehicles eliminate human errors like distracted driving, speeding, etc, which cause over 90% of traffic accidents. Secondly, driverless cars can communicate with each other and traffic infrastructure to optimize routes, maintain consistent speeds, and reduce the stop-and-go patterns that cause traffic jams. Driverless vehicles also provide the abilities of smooth driving and better routes. Moreover, the main benefit of driverless vehicles is that they can reduce fuel consumption. This transition can also reduce pollution.

In conclusion, driverless vehicles have numerous drawbacks but the number of advantages is higher than that of disadvantages. People can hire a taxi with just one click and the fares have fixed fares. So through this transition there is no need for bargaining. It can save time and restrict the customers from the debate about fares. Overall, it will prove very beneficial in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task partially, with some contradictions in the student's stated position. In the introduction, the writer states 'In this essay I will discuss both,' and later claims 'I strongly believe that cars should not be driverless.' However, in the conclusion, the writer unexpectedly shifts stance, asserting that 'the number of advantages is higher than that of disadvantages,' creating a confused and underdeveloped final position. Furthermore, the introduction is repetitive, echoing the prompt rather than paraphrasing effectively. While some relevant ideas are presented regarding job losses and traffic safety, they remain somewhat limited and require deeper extension and support to meet higher standards.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay displays some overall organization with recognizable paragraph breaks, but it lacks clear overall progression due to the contradictory thesis and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used mechanically and repetitively, relying heavily on basic transitional markers such as 'Secondly,' 'Moreover,' and 'In conclusion.' Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the internal logic between paragraphs is disjointed, particularly in the final paragraph where a sudden argument about taxi booking and bargaining is introduced without adequate connective flow from the previous points on fuel consumption and pollution.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary is limited but minimally adequate for the task. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'autonomous vehicles,' 'optimize routes,' and 'fuel consumption,' but also demonstrates noticeable repetition, using phrases like 'worldwide' multiple times in close succession. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'restrict the customers from the debate,' which can cause minor difficulty for the reader. Spelling is generally acceptable, but the range of vocabulary lacks the precision and flexibility needed to convey nuanced arguments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple forms alongside occasional, frequently faulty attempts at complex sentences. There are notable grammatical errors throughout the text, such as missing articles ('in driverless cars a minor software fault'), incorrect prepositions, and awkward phrasing. Punctuation is basic, and frequent errors in clause construction require the reader to slow down. While meaning is generally communicated, the high frequency of grammatical slips prevents the writing from achieving better control.

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