IELTS Writing Task 2: The role of public transportation in cities – Band 6-9

Introduction

Public transport is one of the most frequently tested themes in IELTS Writing Task 2 because it intersects with city planning, the environment, and public policy. Examiners use it to assess your ability to argue logically, use data-free examples credibly, and deploy precise vocabulary about infrastructure, congestion, and sustainability. In this guide, you will learn how to handle this topic with confidence: I provide three sample essays (Band 8-9, Band 6.5-7, and Band 5-6), scoring analyses for each, high-value vocabulary, and sentence structures that examiners reward.

Commonly reported past IELTS Task 2 questions on transport (verified against IELTS preparation sources such as IELTS Liz, IELTS-Blog, British Council, and IDP) include:

• Some people think public transport should be free for all city residents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Making public transport cheaper and more convenient is the best way to reduce traffic congestion in cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

For readers exploring how innovation shapes transit policy, you can also see a related discussion of The impact of technology on public transport.

1. Question & Analysis: The role of public transportation in cities

Some people argue that public transportation in cities should be free for all users to reduce traffic and pollution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Question type and requirements:

  • Opinion/Agree-Disagree. You must take a clear position.
  • Discuss effects on congestion and pollution; consider costs, fairness, and feasibility.
  • Support with logical reasons and city-relevant examples (e.g., Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo).

• Key terms:

  • Public transportation: buses, metro/subway, trams, commuter rail.
  • Free for all users: zero fares at point of use, funded by taxation or other revenue.
  • Reduce traffic and pollution: measurable outcomes like fewer cars, lower emissions.

• Common pitfalls:

  • Overclaiming with fake statistics. Avoid fabricated data; use logical reasoning instead.
  • Ignoring counter-arguments (e.g., funding gaps, overcrowding, service quality).
  • Narrow scope: writing only about cars or only about environment without linking to urban finance, equity, and behavior change.

• Strategic approach:

  • Decide your stance: full agreement, partial agreement, or disagreement.
  • Organize by criteria: cost, behavior change, environmental impact, alternatives (targeted subsidies, congestion pricing).
  • Use topic-specific examples: “Seoul’s integrated smart card,” “Vienna’s low-cost annual pass,” or “Singapore’s congestion charges and metro investment.”

For readers interested in emerging tools that may reshape fares and operations, see how this debate intersects with The impact of AI on public transport.

Modern city metro illustrates the role of public transportation in cities and IELTS essay ideas

2. Band 8-9 Sample Essay on The role of public transportation in cities

Band 8-9 essays present a decisive position, fully extend and support ideas, and demonstrate flexible control of complex grammar and topic vocabulary.

Essay (298 words):
Public transportation sits at the heart of urban life, and making it free is often presented as a silver bullet for congestion and pollution. While the goal is laudable, I partly agree that free fares are helpful; however, I believe service quality, network coverage, and demand management are ultimately more decisive.

Firstly, zero-fare policies can lower the barrier to entry, nudging occasional riders to leave their cars at home. For low-income households, free buses and metro systems are immediately equitable, improving access to jobs and education. Yet without frequent, reliable services, fare abolition alone may change little. Cities such as Vienna demonstrate a more sustainable compromise: ultra-low-cost passes paired with dense, punctual networks. This combination targets the main deterrents to ridership—waiting times and inconvenient transfers.

Secondly, congestion and emissions respond strongly to pricing signals for drivers. Where free transit is not matched with congestion charging, limited parking, and clean-vehicle standards, roads remain crowded. Singapore’s experience shows that coordinated policy—investment in metro lines plus road pricing—shifts behavior more reliably than a single, symbolic policy.

Finally, fiscal sustainability matters. Transport agencies need predictable revenue to maintain safety, renew fleets, and electrify buses. If fares are eliminated, ring-fenced funding from fuel taxes or employer levies is essential; otherwise, networks deteriorate and riders return to cars.

In conclusion, free urban transport can be part of the solution, particularly for inclusion and short-term mode shift. However, the decisive levers are quality, integration, and smart road pricing. Cities should prioritize frequent, clean, well-connected services and use targeted discounts or passes before considering universal zero fares.

Scoring table:
| Criterion | Band | Justification |
|—|—|—|
| Task Response | 9 | Clear position, fully developed with balanced evaluation (equity, behavior, funding). |
| Coherence & Cohesion | 8 | Logical sequencing and paragraphing; cohesive devices varied and natural. |
| Lexical Resource | 9 | Precise topic vocabulary: ring-fenced funding, congestion charging, mode shift, electrify fleets. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 8 | Wide range with minimal slips; complex subordination and participle phrases well controlled. |

Why it excels (5-7 points):

• Nuanced stance (partial agreement) sustained throughout.
• Specific, realistic city references without dubious statistics.
• High-level collocations: pricing signals, dense networks, demand management.
• Clear cause-effect chains and counter-arguments.
• Varies sentence structures, including non-defining relatives and parallelism.
• Concludes with actionable policy hierarchy, not repetition.

If you need a policy lens on why certain reforms gain traction while others stall, consider parallels with The role of technology in public policy.

3. Band 6.5-7 Sample Essay on The role of public transportation in cities

Band 6.5-7 essays present a clear position with generally well-developed ideas, some sophistication in vocabulary, and mostly accurate grammar.

Essay (265 words):
Many people believe that making city buses and trains free will solve traffic and environmental problems. I agree to some extent, but I think it only works when the system is already frequent, clean, and well-connected.

On the one hand, zero fares reduce the cost of commuting, especially for students and low-paid workers. This may encourage a modal shift away from private cars, which can cut emissions and reduce noise. In addition, free public transport can promote social inclusion by allowing people to travel for job interviews or medical appointments without financial stress.

On the other hand, if buses are slow and overcrowded, people will still prefer cars. Service quality is the key factor for most commuters. Another issue is the budget. If governments stop collecting fares, they must find revenue elsewhere. Without stable funding, maintenance and expansion could suffer, which would undermine the purpose of the policy.

In my view, cities should first improve the network and offer targeted discounts for regular users, like monthly passes or student cards. They should also combine this with congestion charges and limited parking to reduce car use. After these steps, making some routes or off-peak hours free might be a reasonable trial.

Overall, free fares can help, but they are not a magic solution. It is better to prioritize reliability and integration and then consider reducing or removing fares where it makes sense.

Scoring table:
| Criterion | Band | Justification |
|—|—|—|
| Task Response | 7 | Clear position, reasonably developed arguments with examples. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | 7 | Logical progression; cohesive devices sometimes mechanical but effective. |
| Lexical Resource | 7 | Appropriate range: modal shift, inclusion, congestion charges; occasional repetition. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 6.5 | Mix of complex and simple sentences; minor errors but meaning clear. |

Direct comparison with Band 8-9:

• Precision: Band 8-9 uses sharper policy terms (ring-fenced funding) vs. general “stable funding.”
• Argument depth: Band 8-9 integrates coordinated policy (road pricing + metro investment); Band 7 mentions measures but with less interaction.
• Examples: Band 8-9 anchors examples to specific cities; Band 7 is more generic.
• Cohesion: Band 8-9 uses varied, subtle linkers; Band 7 occasionally repeats key phrases.

Funding debates in transport often mirror how public money is allocated in other cultural areas; for a parallel, see The role of governments in arts funding.

4. Band 5-6 Sample Essay on The role of public transportation in cities

Band 5-6 essays address the task but with limited development, noticeable grammatical errors, and uneven cohesion.

Essay (258 words):
Some people say public transport should be free for everyone in cities. I think it is a good idea because it will make less cars and less pollution. Also poor people cannot pay expensive tickets, so it is fair to them. Government should pay because it is their responsibility.

Firstly, if buses and metro are free, more people will use them. Then traffic will be smaller, and city will be more clean. Everyone like free things, so they will not drive cars so much. Secondly, free public transport help students and elderly a lot. They can go anywhere any time.

However, some people say it is too expensive. I disagree because government can collect money from taxes and big companies must support it. If we compare to the health benefits and environment, it is cheap price. Also if the buses are crowded, city can just add more buses.

In conclusion, free transport is the best choice and should be in all cities. It will reduce traffic and pollution fast and make people happy.

Scoring table:
| Criterion | Band | Justification |
|—|—|—|
| Task Response | 6 | Addresses the question but arguments are simplistic and not fully supported. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | 5.5 | Basic organization; repetitive linkers; limited paragraph development. |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 | Simple vocabulary; some awkward collocations (make less cars). |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 5 | Frequent errors with articles, agreement, and word forms; meaning usually clear. |

Error analysis:
| Mistake | Why wrong | Correction |
|—|—|—|
| make less cars | Wrong verb and countable noun form | reduce the number of cars |
| city will be more clean | Comparative adjective form | the city will be cleaner |
| Everyone like free things | Subject-verb agreement | Everyone likes free things |
| free public transport help | Agreement error | free public transport helps |
| cheap price | Redundant/awkward collocation | relatively inexpensive |
| city can just add more buses | Oversimplified solution | the city would need additional funding and planning to increase bus frequency |

How to improve from Band 6 to 7:

• Replace blanket statements with conditional, cause-effect reasoning.
• Add credible examples (e.g., low-cost passes, congestion charging).
• Upgrade collocations: traffic congestion, fare abolition, service frequency.
• Vary sentence structures; reduce repetition of “because” and “also.”

5. Essential Vocabulary for The role of public transportation in cities

Word/Phrase	Type	Pronunciation	Definition	Example	Collocations
congestion charging	noun	/kənˈdʒes.tʃən ˈtʃɑː.dʒɪŋ/	Fee for driving in busy areas	Congestion charging reduced city-centre traffic.	congestion zone, charging scheme
modal shift	noun	/ˈmoʊ.dəl ʃɪft/	Change in transport mode used	Free passes encouraged a modal shift to buses.	significant modal shift, induce a shift
ring-fenced funding	noun	/ˈrɪŋ ˌfenst ˈfʌndɪŋ/	Money reserved for a purpose	Ring-fenced funding protects maintenance budgets.	ring-fence budgets, ring-fenced revenue
fare abolition	noun	/feər ˌæbəˈlɪʃ.ən/	Removal of passenger fares	Fare abolition alone won’t fix overcrowding.	complete abolition, partial abolition
service frequency	noun	/ˈsɜː.vɪs ˈfriː.kwən.si/	How often services run	Higher service frequency reduces wait times.	peak frequency, off-peak frequency
network coverage	noun	/ˈnet.wɜːk ˈkʌv.rɪdʒ/	How much area is served	Poor network coverage deters commuters.	extensive coverage, limited coverage
demand management	noun	/dɪˈmɑːnd ˈmænɪdʒmənt/	Policies to influence travel demand	Road pricing is a form of demand management.	travel demand management
integrated ticketing	noun	/ˈɪn.tɪˌɡreɪ.tɪd ˈtɪkɪtɪŋ/	One ticket for multiple modes	Integrated ticketing makes transfers seamless.	integrated fare system
equitable access	adj+noun	/ˈek.wɪ.tə.bəl ˈæk.ses/	Fair access for all groups	Free off-peak fares improve equitable access.	ensure equitable access
cost-effective	adjective	/ˌkɒst.ɪˈfek.tɪv/	Good value for money	Passes are more cost-effective than free rides.	cost-effective strategy
moreover	linker	/mɔːrˈoʊ.vɚ/	Adds information	Moreover, coverage must improve first.	moreover, furthermore
nonetheless	linker	/ˌnʌn.ðəˈles/	Contrast concession	Nonetheless, fares influence ridership.	nonetheless, however
subsidize	verb	/ˈsʌb.sɪ.daɪz/	Support financially	Cities subsidize student passes.	heavily subsidize, government-subsidized
electrify (fleets)	verb	/ɪˈlek.trə.faɪ/	Convert to electric power	They plan to electrify bus fleets by 2030.	electrify buses, electrification program
park-and-ride	noun	/ˌpɑːrk ən ˈraɪd/	Parking at outer hubs + transit	Park-and-ride reduces inner-city traffic.	park-and-ride scheme

6. High-Scoring Sentence Structures for The role of public transportation in cities

1. Complex subordination

• Formula: Subordinator + dependent clause, main clause
• Example (from Band 8-9): While the goal is laudable, I partly agree that free fares are helpful.
• Why it scores: Shows nuanced contrast without overusing “however.”
• More examples:
  • Although fares influence ridership, reliability is decisive.
  • Because parking is plentiful, many commuters avoid buses.
• Common mistake: Misplacing commas or using a fragment after “although.”

2. Non-defining relative clauses

• Formula: Main clause, which + verb, extra detail
• Example: Cities such as Vienna demonstrate a sustainable compromise, which pairs low-cost passes with dense networks.
• Why it scores: Adds precision and sophistication.
• More examples:
  • The metro, which carries most commuters, needs stable funding.
  • Congestion pricing, which is politically sensitive, can be phased in.
• Mistake: Omitting commas around non-essential information.

3. Participle phrases

• Formula: -ing/-ed phrase, main clause
• Example: Paired with dense, punctual networks, low fares can boost ridership.
• Why it scores: Condenses cause-effect; improves flow.
• More examples:
  • Faced with budget constraints, cities trial partial subsidies.
  • Driven by climate targets, agencies electrify fleets.
• Mistake: Dangling modifiers that do not refer to the subject.

4. Cleft sentences (It-cleft)

• Formula: It + be + focus + that/who + clause
• Example: It is service quality that persuades drivers to switch modes.
• Why it scores: Emphasis highlights the key argument.
• More examples:
  • It is reliable frequency that commuters value most.
  • It was targeted pricing that shifted behavior in Singapore.
• Mistake: Overuse can sound unnatural; use sparingly.

5. Advanced conditionals

• Formula: If/Unless/Provided that + clause, clause
• Example: Unless fares are replaced by ring-fenced revenue, networks deteriorate.
• Why it scores: Shows precise cause-condition reasoning.
• More examples:
  • If parking remains cheap, congestion will persist.
  • Provided that transfers are seamless, ridership will rise.
• Mistake: Mixing conditional tenses (e.g., “If it will be…”).

6. Inversion for emphasis

• Formula: Negative adverbial + auxiliary + subject + verb
• Example: Only when pricing and quality align do drivers abandon cars.
• Why it scores: Advanced control of syntax and emphasis.
• More examples:
  • Rarely has fare abolition alone solved congestion.
  • Not until coverage expands will free fares be effective.
• Mistake: Forgetting auxiliary inversion after the fronted phrase.

7. Self-Assessment Checklist

Before writing:

• Identify question type (opinion, discussion, solution).
• Decide your stance and 2-3 main reasons.
• Note city-specific examples you can name without statistics.

While writing:

• State your position clearly in the introduction and conclusion.
• Use one central idea per paragraph; link back to the question.
• Vary structures (subordination, clefts, inversion) naturally.

After writing:

• Check for task relevance in every paragraph.
• Replace vague words (good, bad) with topic terms (coverage, frequency, pricing).
• Correct common errors (agreement, articles, prepositions).

Time management tips:

• Planning: 8 minutes (thesis + outline).
• Writing: 28 minutes (intro, 2-3 body paragraphs, conclusion).
• Checking: 4 minutes (grammar, cohesion, vocabulary upgrades).

Conclusion

Mastering The role of public transportation in cities helps you address a classic IELTS topic with confidence. The fastest gains come from a clear stance, precise vocabulary (modal shift, congestion charging), and advanced but readable sentence patterns. Practice by writing timed responses to the question above, then compare your draft to the Band 7 and Band 9 models to identify gaps in argument depth and cohesion. Share your practice essay in the comments for peer feedback, and aim for incremental improvements across two to three weeks of daily writing. For those exploring future-ready transit systems, a useful complement is The role of green technology in sustainability, which explains how cleaner fleets and infrastructure can reinforce your arguments about urban mobility. Keep practicing, refine your structure, and build your own bank of transport-focused examples—you’ll see steady progress toward your target band.