Some cities have vehicle-free days when private cars, trucks, and motorcycles are banned from the city centre. People are encouraged to use public transportation such as buses, taxis, and metro on vehicle-free days. Do the advantages of having vehicle-free days outweigh the disadvantages?
Sample Response
In an attempt to reduce urban pollution and congestion, some cities have introduced vehicle-free days during which private automobiles and motorcycles are restricted in central areas. Although this initiative has certain environmental and social advantages, I believe the drawbacks outweigh the benefits due to the inconvenience it causes and its limited long-term impact.
On the one hand, temporarily banning private vehiclesbanning private vehicles temporarily can improve air quality and reduce noise pollution. Without the usual stream of traffic, city centres become cleaner and quieter, offering residents a break from usual urban congestionthe typical urban chaos. Additionally, such initiatives promote the use of public transport and environmentally friendly alternatives such as cycling and walkingalternatives like cycling or walking, activities that may contribute to healthier lifestyleswhich may contribute to healthier lifestyles. For instance, in Bogotá, Colombia, the annual “Car-Free Day” has led to a measurable drop in air pollution duringfor that 24-hour period.
However, these benefits are often short-lived and cause considerable public inconveniencecome at the cost of public inconvenience. Many commuters rely on private vehicles for flexibility, especially those with children, the elderly, or long commutes. Public transportation, while available, may not meet the increased demand onduring these days, leading to overcrowding and delays. Moreover, local businesses frequently report fewer customer visitsa decline in customer visits due to reduced accessibility. For example, shop owners in some European cities expressed concern that foot traffic dropped significantly during initial trials of car-free initiatives which negatively affected their businessesand that is negative for their businesses.
In conclusion, while vehicle-free days may offer temporary environmental relief and raise awareness about sustainable transport, they often disrupt daily routines and fall short of offering long-term solutions. Therefore, I believe the disadvantages of this practice outweigh the advantages.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The essay gives a direct comparative judgment and supports it with well-developed, relevant discussion of environmental gains, commuter disruption, transport capacity, and business access. Its strongest feature is the controlled progression from acknowledged benefits to more consequential drawbacks; the main limitation is a small amount of awkward phrasing in an otherwise fluent response. The priority is to refine the few imprecise expressions while preserving the clear analytical structure.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response fully answers the comparative question with a clear position and well-developed, relevant support for both advantages and disadvantages.
Strengthen the evaluation further by explicitly weighing the scale and duration of the competing effects at the end of the drawbacks paragraph.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay is logically sequenced, paragraphs have clear central purposes, and cohesive devices support smooth progression throughout.
Make the transition from the business example to the overall judgment slightly more concise to sharpen the paragraph ending.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise range of topic vocabulary is used naturally, with only isolated wording that is less polished.
Replace awkward expressions such as that is negative for their businesses with a more precise consequence such as reducing revenue.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence structures is handled accurately, and the response is largely error-free apart from minor local awkwardness.
Refine parallel structures in lists, especially the description of commuters with children, elderly dependants, or long journeys.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some cities have vehicle-free days when private cars, trucks, and motorcycles are banned from the city centre. People are encouraged to use public transportation such as buses, taxis, and metro on vehicle-free days. Do the advantages of having vehicle-free days outweigh the disadvantages?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.