Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-08

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether.

Do you think the environmental benefits of this development outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Nowadays, there is an ongoing trend of flight reduction. People are considering to reduce the number of flights every year. Moreover, some of them are now quitting to fly altogether, because of environmental advantages. Although this development has few advantages but I personally believe that these few advantages cannot surpass the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. This essay will dicsuss the both benefits and drawbacks of this development.

On the one hand, this trend has few important benefits. One of the most important benefits is the reduction of global warming. Aeroplanes emit green house gases like sulfurdioxide, carnondioxide and flouro-chloro-carbon, and these gases highly contribute to global warming. Therefore, if people donot travel by aeroplane, or they travel less frequently, so atmosphere will be clean and global warming will be minimized. Although, we cannot see further benefits of this development.

On the other hand, this advancement has several drawbacks. One of the most prominent drawbacks is the economic decline. Since, the aviation or civil-aviation department contributes significantly to the economy of the country. If people stop flying or reduce their flights, so country will suffer serious economic downfall. The other negative aspect of this development is lack of private communication between high designation government or business officials. Due to cybersecurity threats they donot communicate secretly on public applications or social media sites. For example, the diplomats always meet physically for the important meeting and they engage secretly for futuristic progress of country. If flights cancel so, country will suffer seriously.

In conclusion, flights reduction or flight cancellation has both benefits and drawbacks. This advancement has only one positive impact to environment that is reduction of global warming, whereas it leads to several negative consequences such as economic decline and foreign affair failures for both government and businesses. Therefore, I personally believe that this development cannot outdo drawbacks fot pupil and businesses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear answer to the question: you believe the environmental benefits do not outweigh the disadvantages, and you discuss both sides. The reduction in global warming is relevant, as are the economic effects and the need for in-person diplomatic or business meetings. However, the response only partly develops these points. The environmental case is reduced to one broad benefit, and the claim that fewer flights would cause serious economic decline is asserted rather than supported with a specific explanation or example. The point about private communication is also unclear and focuses mainly on government officials rather than individuals and businesses more broadly. To strengthen the response, explain the scale of each effect and connect your examples directly to the groups named in the question.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. The contrast between “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” helps readers follow the main direction, and your position is repeated in the conclusion. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty: “Although this development has few advantages but…” combines two contrasting forms, while “Therefore… so…” uses overlapping connectors. Some references are also unclear, such as “this advancement” and “If flights cancel,” which make the links between ideas less precise. The paragraph about communication moves quickly from cybersecurity to diplomats without fully explaining the connection. Use fewer, more accurate linking phrases and make each paragraph’s reasoning progress step by step.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “global warming,” “aviation,” “cybersecurity threats,” and “economic decline,” which helps communicate the main ideas. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “prominent drawbacks.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, sometimes making the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “quitting to fly,” “lack of private communication,” and “foreign affair failures” do not express the intended ideas naturally. Spelling errors such as “sulfurdioxide,” “carnondioxide,” and “flouro-chloro-carbon” are noticeable. Aim for precise, conventional expressions and check spelling, especially for technical terms; this will make your argument clearer and more credible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including conditional forms such as “If people stop flying or reduce their flights…” and a concession in the introduction. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to read. For example, “Although this development has few advantages but…” incorrectly combines two contrasting structures, and “if people… so atmosphere will be clean” has an incorrect clause pattern and is missing an article. Other examples include “Since, the aviation… contributes…” as a sentence fragment and “If flights cancel” where the verb construction is incomplete. Practise forming complete clauses, using one connector per relationship, and checking articles and verb forms. More accurate control of these patterns would improve readability.

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