Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

Due to ongoing climate crisis, some people have taken a decision to reduce air travel or to stop air travel altogether. The environmental benefits of this initiative is great because air travel is one of the biggest emmitter of fossil fule emmissions but this would also hit the business class in the form of missed business meetings.

The environmental benefits of such initiatives are great because air travel is the biggest emmittor of carbon dioxide which pollute the air and cause global warming. With reduction in air travel, fossil fuel consumption would reduce, which would benefit the environment. But this reduced usage plane for travel would hit the business class who use it for business purposes like meeting business clients or to oversee overseas businesses. This would also hit the businesses which rely on air for quick service delivery like sending posts.

I think the environemental benefits of the decision to stop flying far outweigh the disadvantages to individuals and businesses. Because the environment is a common heritage and everyone should protect it including those whose businesses are affected by such initiatve. If we continue to emit fossils fuels just to benefit ourselves than we would do a permanent damage to the environment which would affect not only those who are doing businesses but also the common people. Those common people have contributed nothing towards hurting the environment.

In conclusion, the decision to stop flying might have a negative impact on thr businesses of some individuals but its benefits to the environment are much greater. Environment is our common heritage and we must protect it even if it incurs some financial losses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both sides by mentioning emissions as well as impacts on business travel and deliveries. The conclusion reinforces this view. However, some points are asserted rather than explained. For example, you call air travel a major source of emissions but do not compare its environmental impact with the practical or economic costs of reducing flights. The disadvantages are also narrow: business meetings and post delivery are mentioned, but the effects on individual travellers are not developed. To strengthen the response, explain these consequences with a specific example and show why the environmental gains remain more important.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, a paragraph on benefits and disadvantages, a paragraph stating your view, and a conclusion. The overall line of argument is understandable. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes abrupt: the shift from reduced fuel use to business meetings and then post delivery is not fully connected. Linking words such as “But” and “Because” are used mechanically, and the sentence beginning “Because the environment is a common heritage” is left as a fragment. Some references, such as “this initiative” and “this reduced usage,” could be more precise. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to the point it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “climate crisis,” “fossil fuel consumption,” “global warming,” and “financial losses,” so the main ideas are generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “common heritage” and “oversee overseas businesses.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “emmitter,” “fule,” “emmissions,” and “environemental.” Some expressions are awkward or imprecise: “business class” appears to mean business travellers, while “the biggest emitter” is an overgeneralised claim. Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling carefully; a more precise range would make the argument sound more controlled and academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “because,” “which,” and “if,” and the main meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain. In the opening, “The environmental benefits … is great” has a subject–verb agreement problem; later, “which pollute the air and cause global warming” does not agree with the singular noun “carbon dioxide.” The sentence “Because the environment is a common heritage…” is incomplete, and “If we continue … than we would do” has an incorrect conditional construction. There are also article and plural issues, as in “a permanent damage.” Review agreement, complete-sentence structure, and conditional forms while continuing to use varied sentence patterns.

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