Some people think it is more important to spend money on roads and motorways than on public transport systems such as railways and trams.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think it is more important to spend money on roads and motorways than on public transport systems such as railways and trams.

More important to spend money on roads and motorways than on public transport systems - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 7 · 316 words.

The question of whether governments should spend more money has always sparked a widespread debate. While some people argue that improving public transport is a more effective solution rather than constructing new roads, I completely agree with this statement and believe that investing in a transport system is a better approach due to its positive impact on productivity and the environment.

Perhaps the main reason why investment in public transport is much more effective than investment in roads is the reduction in the use of private cars. When the government improves public transport, making it fast and convenient, the time spent on commute falls notably, which saves a lot of time for daily activities. Better public transport serves as an alternative to private cars and attracts a lot of users, thereby reducing traffic congestion. Since the number of private vehicles on the roads drops significantly, traffic flow improves. Consequently, the time previously spent in traffic jams is now used for work and personal commitments, ultimately leading to better productivity. Therefore, investing in public transport due to reduced traffic congestion is more effective than investing in new roads.

Furthermore, another compelling reason for prioritizing public transport is its positive impact on the environment. By improving public transport, air quality can be improved, which yields significant health benefits. Changing traditional fuel-based engines into electric ones reduces CO₂ emissions and other harmful pollutants, thereby providing cleaner air. People living in urban areas with cleaner air are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases, ultimately lowering the financial burden of healthcare costs. Thus, investing in the public transport system improves both the environment and the public's overall well-being.

In conclusion, some claim that investment in public transport is more effective than constructing new roads. I totally agree with this argument and contend that better productivity and environment are the primary reasons why government should spend allocate more money towards it.

Examiner feedback

This is a solid Band 7 essay. It presents a clear, well-supported argument with a logical structure and a good range of accurate language. The slight logical inconsistency in the introduction and the minor typo in the conclusion are the only notable flaws in an otherwise very strong performance.

Task Response - 7

- The candidate addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout the essay. - Main ideas are well-extended and supported with logical consequences (e.g., how reduced traffic leads to higher productivity). - There is a minor logical slip in the introduction where the candidate says they 'agree' with a statement they actually rephrased to be the opposite of the prompt, but the actual stance (favoring public transport) is consistent.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information and ideas are organized logically with a clear progression from the introduction to the conclusion. - Each paragraph focuses on a clear central topic (productivity/congestion in paragraph two, environment/health in paragraph three). - Cohesive devices like 'Consequently', 'Furthermore', and 'Thus' are used appropriately, though some transitions are slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource - 7

- The range of vocabulary is sufficient for the task, with some precise topic-related terms like 'traffic congestion', 'CO₂ emissions', and 'financial burden'. - Collocations are generally natural, such as 'yields significant health benefits' and 'personal commitments'. - Vocabulary is used with enough flexibility to avoid excessive repetition, though the word 'investing' appears frequently.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- A good variety of complex structures is used, including conditional clauses ('When...') and relative clauses ('which yields...'). - The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. - A minor proofreading error exists in the conclusion ('spend allocate'), which appears to be a typo rather than a lack of knowledge.

Related prompts

Start Practice