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User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 2 Band 6.0 Example

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

354 words AcademicTask 2
Task 2

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

  • Explain why age could matter: less driving experience and maturity may affect hazard awareness and decision-making.
  • Qualify the age argument by noting that age does not reliably measure an individual’s driving skill and that some young people depend on driving for access to work or education.
  • Compare age limits with measures that address multiple causes of collisions, such as graduated licensing, enforcement, driver training, and safer road design.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the debate and state a clear degree of agreement.
  2. Explain the strongest reason a higher age limit could improve safety.
  3. Discuss why age alone is an imperfect solution and identify the costs or limits.
  4. Offer complementary measures that address other causes of crashes.
  5. Conclude with a balanced judgment that directly answers the question.
Useful vocabulary & examples
graduated licensing
A system in which new drivers gain driving privileges in stages, often with restrictions at first.

Graduated licensing can help novice drivers gain experience before receiving a full licence.

hazard awareness
The ability to notice potential dangers and respond appropriately while driving.

Driver training can strengthen hazard awareness among inexperienced motorists.

chronological age
A person's age measured in years, as distinct from their ability or maturity.

Chronological age is an imperfect indicator of driving competence.

road infrastructure
The physical features of roads and related facilities, such as surfaces, lighting, and signs.

Investment in road infrastructure can reduce hazards for all road users.

Task Prompt

Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving a car or motorbike. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 6.0

Nowadays, it has become possible to achieve road safety through increasing the legal driving age. From my perspective, I believe that raising the age threshold for driving indeed can contribute to road safety, while I would argue that solely focusing on the restriction of driving is adequate to realize road safety. To begin with, there are reasons to consider age, but competence remains essential.

The argument for a higher age is that an older beginner may approach a decision with greater maturity. Delaying access can also reduce the number of young drivers on the road. These are reasons to consider age as one factor, but they do not show that every older driver is careful or that every younger one is irresponsible. A person who begins later still needs to learn how to handle traffic safely.

Training therefore matters independently of the threshold. Learners need practice in recognising hazards, controlling a vehicle and responding to other road users. A test should assess the relevant skills rather than simply confirm that the applicant has reached a birthday. Supervised experience and clear expectations can address the difficulty faced by any new driver, regardless of when they start.

Other measures concern conduct after a licence has been obtained. Consistent enforcement of rules on dangerous behaviour can apply to the whole driving population. Roads can also be designed so that crossings, junctions and sightlines make safe decisions easier. Improving these conditions addresses hazards that an age restriction alone leaves untouched. Responsibility is shared between road users and those managing the environment.

There are costs to relying mainly on a higher threshold. A young person in an area with little public transport may find access to education or employment more difficult. The restriction should therefore be weighed against its likely safety effect and the alternatives available. A policy can be simple to describe without being the most effective response to the actual sources of danger.

In conclusion, I favour a carefully considered increase where it offers a realistic safety benefit. It should operate alongside training, enforcement and safer road design rather than replace measures that apply to all drivers.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Use the direct opening to answer the precise task and keep that judgement consistent.
2
Develop a relevant example through cause and consequence rather than leaving it as a name or list item.
3
Check the quoted clauses in context and qualify statements that imply a guaranteed outcome.

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