Some people think that governments should spend money on railways. Others believe that there should be more investment into new roads. Discuss both sides and give your opinion

Bhargavee Sisodia

30 Jul 2024

The International English Language Test System, or simply the IELTS Exam, was created to allow non-native English speakers to qualify as fluent English speakers. Its certificate is highly legitimate and recognized by practically all international organizations and colleges. Four assessment categories will be on the IELTS Academic (for students) or General Training (for working professionals): Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.

IELTS Academic vs IELTS General Training: Definition

The purpose of IELTS Academic is to prepare applicants for admission to college, university, or employment in countries where English is the main medium of communication. Determining a person's ability for English language instruction or study is the primary goal of the test. 

IELTS General Training, on the other hand, is intended for candidates who wish to apply for secondary school, training programs, and job experience in an English-speaking environment, The purpose of the exam is to assess a candidate's everyday, non-academic English proficiency. Here, the candidate's basic survival abilities in a wide range of social and professional contexts are the primary focus of the exam.

Understanding the IELTS Writing Task

Let us first review the IELTS Writing Task format before moving on to the instructions.

IELTS Writing Task 1- There is a 20-minute time limit on this task, and you must write at least 150 words.  

• IELTS Academic Task 1- You would have to write a formal description of the visual representation in the form of a chart, graph, table, procedure, or diagram for the IELTS Academic Task 1.
• IELTS General Task 1-  Here, writing a letter in response to the given circumstance or as a request is needed. Either a formal or semi-formal tone is acceptable in General Task 1.

 IELTS Writing Task 2 - It requires candidates to write an essay in response to a given prompt or question. The essay should possess a clear opening, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It should also have a formal tone. Getting a good score on IELTS Writing Task 2 requires careful planning, organization, and the use of proper language and grammar in the essay. 

There is only one difference between the IELTS Academic and General training formats: the latter's subjects are general and easy to understand. 

• IELTS Writing Academic Task 2: The topics covered in the Academic section of the IELTS Writing test are science, education, and society, and a formal writing style with a high vocabulary level is required. 
• IELTS Writing General Task 2: The topics covered in the IELTS Writing General Part pertain to events, situations, activities, or interests from everyday life. Both the writing style and vocabulary might be casual or intermediate. 

IELTS Essay – Types of IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays:

• Opinion essay: Opinion essays are academic essays where students are required to provide reasons and supporting details(usually called “agree” or “disagree”) to convince the examiner by stating their opinions on a particular topic. 
• Advantages/Disadvantages Type: An advantage and disadvantage essay type is a two-part essay that requires you to outline every advantage and disadvantage of a certain item, event, or circumstance. 
• Problem and Solution Type: Here you are given a question that states an issue in a problem and solution essay format. In this instance, you should address the reasons behind a certain circumstance or occurrence and any remedies or safety measures to prevent similar issues.
• Discussion Type: In discussion essays, you are given a question with opposing viewpoints, and your task is to explain and provide evidence for each side of the discussion. Your personal opinion can only be shared upon demand.
• Balanced Opinion Type: In essays on balanced opinions, you are presented with a case in which you express some agreement with one side while remaining neutral toward the other. However, you must conclude the essay with a compelling argument supporting your position. 
• Two Questions or Direct Question Type: These kinds of essay questions may consist of a single statement followed by two distinct questions. You will be required to provide precise examples and justifications for each answer. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 Score Assessment Criteria: 

IELTS Writing Tasks 1 and 2 are assessed according to these four distinct criteria discussed below:

• Task achievement: The criterion looks at your summary, the specifics you offer about the content, and the precision with which you have highlighted the key points and examples. In writing task 1 you should not write less than 150 words and also in writing task 2 your word limit should not be less than 250 words. You will be penalized for writing fewer words. 
• Coherence and Cohesion: This IELTS criterion assesses the appropriate use of cohesive devices (such as connectors and conjunctions), paragraph skills, and related word use. Additionally, the quantity of paragraphs is taken into account. Dividing your essay into fewer or more paragraphs might result in a poorer score.
• Lexical Resource: This criterion considers word construction, accurate spelling, appropriate collocation use, and the use of a suitable spread of vocabulary when allocating points. You must refrain from speaking informally and using improper words. 
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: To score this criterion, you must employ a variety of grammatical structures and tenses to meet the requirements. You should also use proper punctuation and write your phrases carefully.  

Five essential tips for enhancing your grammar to help you write better: 

1. Manage the length of your sentences: You should practice utilizing the various sentence forms once you are familiar with them. The compound-complex sentence is the trickiest to answer, but you may still perform well on the test by using a combination of simple, compound, and complex statements. To make a sentence sound natural, it is important to alter its length and structure.
2. Use a combination of words: Students who are getting ready for their IELTS examination are always eager to learn a large vocabulary. However, being able to utilize a term properly varies from simply knowing its meaning. You will find it easier to apply a term once you have learned it in context. When you are learning vocabulary in your IELTS essay topics, pay attention to what words commonly go together.
3. Avoid using contractions in academic writing: Using contractions in academic writing makes your writing sound informal. 

            Examples: 

I’m = I am

They’re = They are

I’d = I had

She’s = She is

How’s = How is

1. Be careful of sentence structures: Understanding the distinction between a simple and complex statement is crucial. Although you don't have to understand the terminology, being able to speak in whole sentences is important.
2. Eliminate frequently made spelling errors: To eliminate frequent spelling mistakes while writing sentences, students should practice IELTS essay topics while going through past years' test questions more quickly to better understand the format of the exam.

Description of Bands based on four assessment criteria:

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Question With Answer: 

Some people think that governments should spend money on railways. Others believe that there should be more investment into new roads. Discuss both sides and give your opinion

We must determine the kind of essay to respond to the provided question. It falls into the category of a discussion essay based on the forms that are now known to exist. Three sample responses that match the requirements of bands 6, 7, and 9 have been composed briefly. This can help you understand the distinctions and inefficiencies in the responses that caused them to fall into different bands. However, consider how a discussion essay is structured before looking at the solutions. 

Structure of Discussion Essay:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the information given on the topic. 
• First Body: Describe one point of view, present evidence for and against it, and give an example.
• Second Body: Give the other side of the argument, address it, and provide another example.
• Third Body (Optional): You can use a third body paragraph if you need to divide the preceding paragraphs into smaller chunks. 
• Conclusion: Recap the conversation and express your favorite viewpoint.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Question with answers

Band 6

The need of the government providing funds to the right sector cannot be exaggerated which is why there is ongoing debate over the economic choices the government makes with regard to transportation. For this reason, some feel that building a railroad is a more important than use of funds than building new roads.  I believe railway investment has more advantages and I will give my personal reasons in this essay. 

These days, I understand the benefits of train transportation as it's cheaper as well as secure. For example, the government aims to build a high-speed railroads to connect the capital with the main city because the highways are usually packed with unnecessary traffic. For around a fourth of the price of a bus or airline ticket, residents may travel long or small distances. Also, since the trains run on a schedule, there is no rail traffic, making it a reliable and greater choice for both the students and workers. 

On the other hand, several developing nations may not have the financial backing necessary to start new planning initiatives. Also, residents enjoy better access to roadways and can take a bus or cab to almost any location in the nation.  For example, public buses are typically essential in providing many people with accessible and reasonably priced transit, especially in cities where train systems are few or almost nonexistent.  

In short, I believe that putting money into railroads makes more sense, especially during current times of growing populations and traffic congestion, while building new roadways would just increase the issue already existing. Because trains and railways are larger and have the ability to carry more people and goods at once, they tends to use less energy and generate fewer pollutants in the environment. 

Take on this essay: 

There are coherence and cohesiveness were not maintained by using the proper combination of connecting words and coherent thoughts. There are various grammar and tense issues. Numerous instances of improper and repetitive word usage that fall under lexical resource errors. There is room to employ examples to support each point of view and to organize the concepts in a logical flow. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics with answers

Band 7 

For many large cities, traffic congestion is a major issue. A lot of individuals have a consensus that governments should be investing greatly in the development of transportation systems like trains and subway lines. Still, some argue that building new roads is the right thing to do. I believe the government needs to invest more money on railroads as they provide for the least expensive transport across the greatest distance and reduce traffic congestion. 

First and foremost, the main benefit is that they can cover greater distances in less time. The majority of people use trains since they are the least expensive mode of transportation and can cover larger distances. For example, a great number of people commute from one city to another for work, often covering distances till 200 kilometers. As a result, railroads provide timely and economical travel. 

On the other hand, building roads is equally essential to a nation's progress. Some regions of the world lack access to railways due to rough landscape. Highways are thus the most efficient means of transportation for residents. In cities which have limited or nonexistent train networks, public bus are frequently essential in providing many people with accessible, reasonably priced transit. For this reason, highways should get greater financial assistance from the government than railroads.

In conclusion, there are several important advantages to allocating public monies to railway infrastructure, such as easing traffic congestion, lessening the impact on the environment, and promoting economic growth. Governments may benefit individuals and the environment by investing in railways to build a more connected efficient and sustainable transport network. In the near future, the entire human population may profit from railway advancements.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics with answers

Band 9

In today's complex society, there is a debate over whether governments should prioritize funding for new roadways or railways. While some argue that more funds should be allocated for roads, I strongly believe that investing in the rail network would have greater benefits. In the following sections, I will explain my viewpoint in more detail.

One of the principal reasons why the government should prioritize funding for railways is because it can help diminish air pollution and traffic-related problems. Likewise, investing in railways would ameliorate the city's infrastructure. By expanding the number of railways, people would have a faster and more diverse option for travel, which would also expedite the process. This is especially beneficial for those living in remote areas, as they would have access to economical and quicker transportation options. For example, suburban people could easily commute to work without having to relocate. 

On the contrary, building more roads could potentially ease traffic congestion. Having multiple roads would also provide civilians with a variety of destinations to choose from, allowing them to select the closest one for their arrival point. However, this would only be effective if appropriate traffic signals, lights, and zebra crossings were built using high-quality materials. For instance, if traffic lights are not set up properly, it could be difficult for drivers to see pedestrians crossing the road, leading to accidents and roadblocks. 

In a nutshell, while there are arguments for why the government should invest in new roads, I have a firm conviction that trains offer greater precedence for both the general public and the environment. These factors should be taken into consideration when allocating funds, as investing in railways would have a positive impact on society. 

Take on this essay: 

This essay has met the requirements for a band score of nine owing to its appropriate delivery, flow, clarity, word use, and grammatical accuracy. 

Conclusion:

If you want to take the IELTS writing test, D-Vivid Consultant is the ideal place for you to go since our knowledgeable teachers and trainers will make your goal of getting excellent exam results a reality. Here, our staff is dedicated to introducing you to a range of IELTS essay topics and assisting you in navigating through examples for IELTS writing task 2 topics that also include answers. Since the responses are categorized based on the IELTS writing band score criterion, you will have the opportunity to examine the writing styles of the same IELTS writing task 2 topic. As you navigate the specialized programs and methods for IELTS exam preparation with D-Vivid Consultant individual supervision, you will feel certain about achieving the ideal IELTS writing band score.