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User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 2 Band 7.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

318 words AcademicTask 2
Task 2

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Explain how carrying many passengers in one train can reduce emissions per traveller compared with relying on individual cars.
  • Connect reliable rail services with fewer commuter car journeys, reduced congestion and improved urban air quality.
  • Acknowledge that roads provide direct access to rural areas and destinations not served by rail, so prioritising rail does not require neglecting roads.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the funding comparison and state clearly whether you agree.
  2. Develop the environmental argument with a cause-and-effect explanation.
  3. Add a separate argument about rail capacity, connectivity or business travel.
  4. Concede the continuing value of roads and clarify that they still require essential funding.
  5. Conclude by restating the priority and describing a balanced approach.
Useful vocabulary & examples
railway investment
Government spending on rail infrastructure or services.

Railway investment can improve the reliability of services between major towns.

well-connected services
Transport services that link effectively with other routes or places.

Well-connected services can make rail a more practical option for commuters.

road congestion
Heavy traffic that slows movement on roads.

Reliable trains may help reduce road congestion during busy commuting periods.

rural access
The ability of people in countryside communities to reach services and destinations.

Road funding remains important for rural access where railway routes are limited.

Task Prompt

Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this statement?

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 7.0

For development and prosperity of a country a well organised infrastructure is highly essential. For that reason, there should be more investment on rail tracts, instead of construction of more roads by higher authorities, it has become an elusive topic of debate among people. I align with the fact that allocating funds for railway construction should be a priority, although this does not mean that road networks can be neglected.

The strongest reason to favour railways is their ability to move large numbers of passengers efficiently. A well-connected train service can reduce the number of cars on busy routes, easing congestion and making journeys more predictable. Rail transport can also produce fewer emissions per passenger than individual car travel, particularly when trains are well used and powered by cleaner energy. Investment in railways may therefore support both economic activity and environmental goals.

Rail links can also benefit businesses by providing a reliable way to transport goods between major centres. When journeys are faster and more dependable, companies can plan deliveries more effectively. In addition, stations can connect people with employment, education and services in different areas. These advantages make railway construction a valuable long-term investment rather than simply a way to improve travel.

Nevertheless, roads remain essential. They serve rural communities that may not have enough passengers to justify a railway, and they enable buses, emergency services and goods vehicles to reach places away from train stations. Poorly maintained roads can also undermine the usefulness of rail, since people still need to travel to and from stations. Governments should therefore maintain existing roads and build new ones where there is a clear need, rather than directing all available funding to one mode.

Overall, I agree that railway development should receive greater priority, especially on routes with high demand. However, a balanced transport policy should also maintain essential roads, so that both urban and less accessible communities can benefit.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Rewrite the opening as two or three sentences: introduce the importance of infrastructure, state the debate, and then give your position.
2
Develop each main reason with a clear link to the question: explain how rail investment affects passenger movement, emissions or freight, rather than listing benefits alone.
3
Before submitting, check collocations and word choice in the introduction, especially “investment in,” “railway tracks” and “subject of debate.”

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