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)

People have different opinions whether about reducing an air is more important than continuously to flying. While both have their own pros and cons. I believe that the advantages of this decision outweigh its disadvantages because it can protect our environment and reduce air pollution. This essay will discuss both viewpoints before explaining my position.

To begin with, people argue that if they stop flying continuously then it can cause many problems for pupils and businessmen. A considerable number of individuals travel through airplanes which is the fastest way of travelling through distant countries. Other vehicles can spend more time which cause difficulty for them. For example, in May 2024 Pakistani students studying in Kyrgyzstan faced an emergency. Due to this, this emergency cause huge concerned for parents. The Pakistani government arrange special flights to bring them safety back home. In addition, reducing air travels can cause problems for businesspeople. Many people rely on face-to-face interaction to seal business deals. Therefore if you lessens the air travels can cause many troubles.

Furthermore, people concerned that if they reduce the number of flights they can clean the environment. Aircrafts release carbon dioxide and other emissions which cause ozone depletion. For example, if carbon dioxide releasing continuously it can cause global warming and air pollution. Due to this many health issues take place like asthma which cause difficulty in breathing . On the other hand, if we use electric vehicles instead of airplanes, it will help to make our environment clean. A case in point is, people can travel through electric cars and busses for nearby cities to reduce air pollution. So reducing the travel by air has double edged sword.

To sum up, I believe that we can use electric cars and busses to move from one city to another city. But in emergencies to move another country we can not ignore to travel by air.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view that reducing flights is beneficial, and you include relevant points about emissions, health, urgent travel and business meetings. However, the response only partly answers the comparison in the question: the disadvantages for individuals and businesses are mentioned, but the essay does not clearly weigh them against the environmental benefits. The emergency example illustrates why flights can be necessary, yet its connection to the broader disadvantages is not fully explained. The environmental argument also needs more precise support; for instance, the claim about ozone depletion is not developed or clearly linked to the main comparison. To strengthen the response, explain why the environmental gains are more significant than the costs, and develop each example to support that judgement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and signposts such as “To begin with,” “Furthermore” and “To sum up” help identify the stages of the response. However, progression between ideas is not always clear. The first body paragraph moves from pupils and businessmen to an emergency involving Pakistani students, then to business deals, without fully connecting these points. The second paragraph shifts from aircraft emissions to electric vehicles and then calls air travel a “double edged sword,” leaving the paragraph’s main conclusion unclear. Some linking phrases are also awkward or repetitive. Organise each paragraph around one main claim, explain how each example supports it, and make the final comparison explicit in the conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “carbon dioxide,” “air pollution,” “face-to-face interaction” and “global warming,” so the reader can follow the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “reducing an air,” “travel through airplanes,” “huge concerned” and “clean the environment.” These errors sometimes make the intended meaning harder to understand. Repetition of “cause,” “problems” and “travel” also limits precision. Aim to use more natural combinations and vary key terms—for example, describe reducing the number of flights, emissions from aircraft, and the environmental impact of aviation. Check word forms and spelling, including “buses,” and avoid phrases such as “double edged sword” unless the contrast is clearly explained.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including conditional forms such as “if they stop flying” and clauses introduced by “which” and “because.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “While both have their own pros and cons” as a sentence fragment, “if you lessens the air travels can cause” with an incomplete clause and incorrect verb agreement, and “The Pakistani government arrange” with an incorrect verb form. There are also problems with articles, plurals and punctuation, as in “in emergencies to move another country.” Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and tense before adding subordinate clauses.

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