Band 6 vs Band 8: An Illustrative Essay Comparison

The difference between bands is not mystical — it is four measurable criteria: Task Response (answering the question), Coherence and Cohesion (logic and connectedness), Lexical Resource (precision of vocabulary) and Grammatical Range and Accuracy (variety and accuracy of grammar). Putting two answers to the same question side by side shows these criteria more clearly than a cold explanation, because the difference lies not in an abstract “level” but in the structure of concrete sentences.

This material compares two sample answers to the same question. "Band 6" and "Band 8" are teaching labels for a more limited and a more developed approach here, not verified examiner scores assigned to these texts. Compare the depth of ideas, control of sentences and precision of words. More or fewer words alone do not determine a score; answering the task fully and using language accurately matter. First examine the plans, then the essays.

Question:

Some people think that governments should invest mainly in public transport, while others believe that building new roads matters more. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

"Discuss both views and give your own opinion" requires discussing both positions and presenting your own view. Omitting a part is a problem for Task Response; that feature alone does not automatically assign Band 6 to the whole essay.

• Band 6 plan: introduction (topic announcement) + a paragraph “public transport is cheap” + a paragraph “roads are important too” + conclusion. Several general ideas in each paragraph, no concrete examples, the author's position appears only in the conclusion.
• Band 8 plan: introduction + thesis; first body — a strong presentation of the road supporters' argument and its limit; second body — the advantage of public transport through concretely described effects; conclusion — a precise personal verdict.

A plan can show how ideas will develop, but the same or a different plan alone does not determine the band. Both samples below have four paragraphs; the quality of development, logic, vocabulary and grammar also differs.