Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Sample Response
The transportation infrastructure is a critical decision that requires a comprehensive analysis. While some favour investing more in railways than roads, I oppose the idea. In this essay, I will present arguments against the exclusive focus on railways and demonstrate that investing in roads is often more important.
One primary reason for advocating investment in roads is their versatility and accessibility. Roads provide a convenient and flexible mode of transportation, allowing direct access to various locations, including remote areas that may not be connected by rail networks. In regions with dispersed populations and limited railway coverage, well-maintained roads ensure that communities have adequate access to essential services, such as healthcare and education. For instance, in rural areas of developing countries, roads are often the lifeline for transporting goods and connecting communities, facilitating economic activities and social interactions.
Furthermore, investing in roads can enhance the transportation of goods and bolster trade and commerce. Roads provide an efficient means of transporting goods over shorter distances, offering businesses greater flexibility and reducing logistics costs. For instance, in many countries, a significant portion of freight transport relies on trucks and other road-based vehicles, making roads crucial for ensuring the smooth movement of goods between industries and markets.
Finally, investing in road infrastructure supports various forms of transportation, including private cars, buses, and motorcycles. This inclusivity ensures that people from all walks of life, including those who cannot easily access railways, have reliable and accessible transportation options. For instance, public buses often play a vital role in providing affordable and convenient transportation for many individuals, particularly in cities with limited or no rail systems.
In conclusion, focusing exclusively on the railway system at the expense of roads would be a shortsighted approach to transportation development. Roads play an equal, and sometimes more, crucial role in providing accessibility, promoting trade, and supporting various forms of transportation.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Keep the comparison parallel Original: investing more in railways than roads Suggested revision: investing more in railways than in roads Why it matters: Repeating the preposition makes the two investment targets grammatically parallel.
- 2. Clarify the reference Original: I oppose the idea Suggested revision: I oppose this approach Why it matters: “This approach” refers more precisely to prioritising railways over roads.
- 3. Use concise wording Original: One primary reason for advocating investment in roads Suggested revision: One primary reason to invest in roads Why it matters: The infinitive states the purpose directly without the heavy nominal phrase.
- 4. Use the appropriate article Original: the Suggested revision: a Why it matters: The indefinite article is appropriate for one important source of connection among several.
- 5. Use a precise collocation Original: enhance the transportation of goods Suggested revision: improve freight transport Why it matters: “Freight transport” is a concise and precise term for moving commercial goods.
- 6. Remove semantic repetition Original: bolster trade and commerce Suggested revision: bolster trade Why it matters: “Trade” and “commerce” substantially repeat the same meaning here.
- 7. Use a concrete reference Original: This inclusivity Suggested revision: This range of transport options Why it matters: The revised subject explicitly refers to the cars, buses and motorcycles just listed.
- 8. Use concise terminology Original: supports various forms of transportation Suggested revision: supports various transport modes Why it matters: “Transport modes” is the concise formal term for different ways of travelling.
- 9. Correct the comparison Original: an equal, and sometimes more, crucial role Suggested revision: an equally crucial and sometimes more important role Why it matters: The adverb “equally” is required to compare the importance of the two systems.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: The transportation infrastructure is a critical decision that requires a comprehensive analysis. Suggested revision: Investment in transport infrastructure is a critical decision that requires comprehensive analysis. Why it matters: The rewrite makes investment, rather than infrastructure itself, the decision being analysed.
Suggested Rewrites
- investing more in railways than roads investing more in railways than in roads
- I oppose the idea I oppose this approach
- One primary reason for advocating investment in roads One primary reason to invest in roads
- the a
- enhance the transportation of goods improve freight transport
- bolster trade and commerce bolster trade
Why this response received Band 8.0
The essay presents a clear, nuanced disagreement and develops three persuasive reasons for substantial road investment: access to remote communities, efficient short-distance freight, and support for multiple transport modes. Its strongest feature is the consistent use of relevant examples to connect infrastructure with services, trade, and mobility. The main limitation is limited acknowledgement of railways' strengths; prioritise a brief comparison showing when rail deserves investment and why roads should still receive equal or greater priority.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout and the case for road investment is fully developed with relevant explanations and examples.
Acknowledge rail's advantages for high-capacity or low-emission travel, then explain why geography and transport needs still make a railway-first policy too rigid.
Coherence and Cohesion
Focused body paragraphs, clear topic sentences, and natural transitions create strong progression from accessibility to freight and inclusive mobility.
Make the comparison with railway spending slightly more explicit in each body paragraph to sharpen the response to 'rather than roads'.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is flexible, precise, and natural across infrastructure, accessibility, logistics, trade, and public transport.
For further refinement, vary repeated references to 'roads' where terms such as 'road networks' or 'road infrastructure' remain precise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, with strong control and only rare minor imperfections.
Maintain this accuracy while tightening the slightly awkward opening to 'Transport infrastructure requires careful investment decisions'.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.