Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-12

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 4.5)

There is a focus on the reduction or stopage of the anual flyings by the passangers. It is argued that there are environmental benifits are higher than the problematic issues for indivisuals and businesses. However according my opinion disadvantages outweigh than the environmental benefits because the effect on businesses can affect the economy of a country and the environemnetal pollution can be minimised my the plantation and research.

The reduction of number of flights can reduce mainly affect the economy of a country because it indirectly drops the number of tourists visiting the country and also schedules business meetings. This will decrease the per capita income while risking the citizens' daily life. As for example, when a limited number of flights arrive to Sri Lanka in December, the number of tourists decrease affecting the tourist industry.

Morever, the environmental pollution can be

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You state a clear view that the disadvantages outweigh the environmental benefits, and you begin to support it by linking fewer flights with tourism, business activity and national income. However, the response addresses the task only partially: the business and individual disadvantages are not both explained in sufficient detail, and the environmental side is left unfinished after “Morever, the environmental pollution can be”. The Sri Lanka example is relevant but needs explanation of its consequences and connection to your argument. The response is also 108 words below the required minimum, so there is not enough development to cover both sides and justify your conclusion. Complete the environmental comparison and support each main point with a specific explanation or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an introduction gives your position, followed by a paragraph about economic effects, and “However” signals contrast. The example about flights to Sri Lanka also relates to the point immediately before it. However, the overall progression is incomplete because the final paragraph begins but does not develop, leaving the comparison and conclusion absent. Some linking is awkward or unclear, as in “because it indirectly drops the number of tourists visiting the country and also schedules business meetings”; the relationship between fewer flights and business meetings is difficult to follow. Use separate paragraphs for disadvantages, environmental benefits and your conclusion, and make each paragraph develop one clear point with accurate, purposeful transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt some topic-related vocabulary, including “environmental benefits”, “per capita income”, “tourist industry” and “business meetings”, which helps communicate the general subject. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make the writing less clear, such as “stopage”, “anual flyings”, “benifits” and “indivisuals”. Some combinations are also unnatural: “the reduction of number of flights” and “limited number of flights arrive” would be more idiomatic as “a reduction in the number of flights” and “fewer flights arrive”. Build a more accurate set of phrases for discussing emissions, tourism revenue and business travel, and check spelling carefully. This will make your argument clearer and more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple statements and attempts at longer structures, including “because the effect on businesses can affect the economy of a country” and a clause beginning “when a limited number of flights arrive to Sri Lanka”. However, the range remains limited, and errors in sentence construction and grammatical patterns sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “It is argued that there are environmental benefits are higher” combines incompatible structures, while “according my opinion” lacks the required preposition. In “the number of tourists decrease”, the verb does not agree with the singular subject. Practise building accurate complex sentences with one clear main clause, and check agreement, articles and prepositions before adding further clauses.

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