Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-09

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 5.0)

Nowadays, certain individuals have decided to limit the number of times they fly every year or stop flying to reduce air pollution to the environment. However, the drawbacks outweigh the advantages because it impact bussinesses.

The major advantage is that it reduce air pollution, In other words, when people limit frequent time they fly in the air they can reduce air pollution. This means that limited emmissions are spread to the environment. Airplanes use high voltage of fuel and as a result more gases can be produced when airplanes fly. As a result, this can cause pollution and damage the environment. For instance, in Zimbabwe the environment was being damaged and after reseach they discovered that more emissions were being released by planes and contributing to the damaging of the environment.

However, there are more drawwbacks associated with the limited time individuals fly. This can impact peoples bussiness. This means that when individuals stop travelling they can cause many problems to their bussiness. For example, several individuals travel by plane to fix their bussiness and limiting their frequency can impact their sales.

To conclude, certain individuals have decided to limit the number of times they fly every year or stop flying to reduce air pollution to the environment. However, the drawbacks outweigh the advantages because it impact bussinesses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You give a clear position: you believe the disadvantages outweigh the environmental benefits, and you mention both reduced pollution and effects on businesses. However, the response addresses the question only partially. The environmental benefit is explained mainly through repeated statements about emissions, while the business disadvantage is asserted rather than explored; the example about people travelling to “fix their bussiness” and affecting sales is unclear and needs a specific explanation. The task requires at least 250 words, but this response contains 200 words; the 18 words copied from the prompt were not counted. This shortfall limits the space available to develop and support your ideas. Explain the scale of each effect and compare them directly to justify your judgement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, one paragraph on environmental benefits, one on business disadvantages, and a conclusion. The contrast signalled by “However” helps readers follow your position, and “For instance” introduces an example. However, progression within the paragraphs is limited: the first repeats the point about reducing pollution several times, and the business paragraph moves quickly from travel to business problems and sales without explaining the links. The conclusion repeats the introduction rather than drawing together the comparison. Develop each paragraph around a distinct point, use clear references to connect cause and effect, and make the example support the claim it follows.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “air pollution,” “emissions,” “environment,” “businesses,” and “sales,” so the main subject is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, particularly “limit,” “fly,” and “impact.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice problems, such as “bussinesses,” “emmissions,” “reseach,” and “high voltage of fuel.” Some expressions are unnatural or unclear, including “limited time individuals fly” and “fix their bussiness.” These choices make parts of the argument harder to understand. Build a more precise range for discussing aviation and commerce, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, using connectors such as “when,” “because,” and “as a result.” This gives some variety, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, the range remains limited, and errors occur frequently. For example, “it impact bussinesses” needs subject–verb agreement (“it impacts businesses”), while “the major advantage is that it reduce” also needs “reduces.” The sentence beginning “when people limit frequent time they fly” has an unclear grammatical construction, and the comma after “pollution” in “air pollution, In other words” should not join these sentences in that way. Practise accurate agreement and sentence boundaries, then use a wider range of controlled complex structures.

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