Samples / Task 2 essay / Opinion (agree or disagree) / Band 7.5

Traffic Congestion and the Cost of City Driving

A Band 7 IELTS Academic Task 2 essay discussing whether increasing the cost of driving is the only solution to city traffic congestion.

The question

In many cities, traffic congestion is getting worse every year. Some people believe the only solution is to increase the cost of driving in city centres. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In many major urban areas around the world, traffic congestion has become a pressing issue that worsens annually. To combat this, some experts argue that raising the cost of driving in city centres is the only viable solution. While I agree that increasing driving expenses is a highly effective measure, I disagree that it is the sole solution, as other strategies must also be implemented to achieve long-term results. On the one hand, charging drivers to enter city centres can immediately reduce the volume of vehicles on the road. For instance, congestion charges, like those implemented in London, force motorists to consider whether their journey is truly necessary. This policy would encourages people to carpool or use alternative transport methods to avoid financial penalties. Furthermore, high parking fees in downtown areas make driving less attractive, which is highly benefitial for the environment due to reduced emissions. However, relying solely on financial penalties can be seen as unfair, as it disproportionately affects lower-income citizens who may have no other choice but to drive. On the other hand, a truly effective strategy requires alternative solutions, particularly the improvement of public transport systems. If governments increase the cost of driving without providing reliable, cheap, and fast alternatives, cities will remain congested because people still need to commute. For example, expanding metro lines and introducing dedicated bus lanes can convince commuters to leave their cars at home. If there is no alternative ways to travel, people will simply pay the higher costs and continue driving, which does not solve the underlying problem. Additionally, long-term urban planning is essential to decentralize business districts. By moving offices and commercial zones out of the city centre, the daily flow of traffic can be distributed more evenly across suburban areas. Encouraging active travel, such as cycling and walking, by building safe bike lanes also plays a vital role in reducing car dependency. In conclusion, although raising the cost of driving is a powerful tool to deter motorists from entering central areas, it is not the only solution. A comprehensive approach that combines financial disincentives with high-quality public transit and smart urban planning is required to tackle traffic congestion successfully.

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This answer was written by a language model to a real exam question, then scored by Bandly against the four public band descriptors. The band is a software estimate. No examiner has marked it, and the band a real examiner would award may differ. Scored with google/gemini-3.5-flash on 2026-09-08.

Estimated overall

7.5

Mean of the four criteria, rounded the way the exam rounds it.

Task Response 8

You are at Band 8 for Task Response because you clearly reject the idea that pricing is the only solution and develop multiple alternative measures with relevant support, though not every idea is explored in full depth.

Coherence and Cohesion 7

The response demonstrates clear progression and logical organisation of ideas, but some cohesive devices are used in a slightly mechanical way, preventing a higher band.

Lexical Resource 7

You use a sufficient range of vocabulary with some awareness of style and collocation, but occasional errors in word choice and word formation prevent a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy 7

You use a variety of complex structures and produce frequent error-free sentences, but a few errors in grammar and punctuation prevent a higher score.

What would take this higher

To improve your coherence and cohesion score, you should focus on making your transitions less mechanical by avoiding overused formulaic phrases like "On the one hand" and "On the other hand" to start your body paragraphs. Instead, try to link your paragraphs more naturally by referencing the core ideas of the previous paragraph, such as connecting the financial penalties of driving directly to the necessity of public transit alternatives. This shift toward more organic, thematic linking rather than relying on repetitive discourse markers will help create a more seamless flow of ideas.

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