Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-13

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 6.0)

Nowadays, there are numerous ways to travel from one place to another but flying or travelling by air is the fastest means of commuting. In this, many people decided that if commuting by fly is reduced, then it impacts positively on the environment. I argue that merits of the same are more as compared to the disadvantages, and the same is discussed in the following paragraphs.

One major advantage on an environment by reducing or stopping flying is decrease in air pollution, as it will reduce the carbon emission in the atmosphere. Most of the airplane or spacecraft runs on fuels such as petrol or diesel so when combustion take place it release harmful carbon dioxide. As a result, people may suffer from diseases like asthma from young age. For instance, the capital of India, Delhi AQI level is at dangerous state because of the biggest international airport. However, if people prefer to travel by train or public transport facilities, than their commuting time will be increased. Hence they have to spend more travelling time.

To add further, fuel use in this types of vehicles is fossil fuels, which takes millions of year to re-generate. Shortage of fuel sources and wisely use of the same will help future generation to utilize it. Hence, next generation will not suffer from energy crisis. For example, according to one article in New York Times, airplane travelling approximately 1,600km utilize double quantity of fuel as compare to train. In contrast, flying will restrict people to attend business meetings and conferences because it will be less convenient.

To summarize, although there are disadvantages such as more commuting time, less convenient for business and important conferences, I firmly believe that merits such as reudce in air pollution, resource utilization and storage for future generation has long-term effect.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both sides by discussing pollution and fuel use alongside longer journeys and reduced convenience for business. The examples about Delhi’s air quality and fuel consumption on a 1,600-kilometre journey help make the argument relevant. This meets the task well, but the support is uneven: the business disadvantage is mentioned only briefly, and the link between flying less and Delhi’s air quality is asserted rather than explained. The point about conserving fuel also overlaps with the environmental argument and could be tied more directly to the question. To strengthen the response further, develop the business impact with a specific example and explain why the environmental gains outweigh these practical costs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction states your view, two body paragraphs present supporting points and counterpoints, and a conclusion restates your position. This gives the reader an overall route through the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes uneven. In the first body paragraph, the discussion moves from emissions to asthma, then to Delhi’s airport, and finally to travel time without clearly connecting each step. Linking phrases such as “To add further” and “Hence” are used, but some connections feel mechanical or do not show the precise relationship between ideas. Use topic sentences to establish each paragraph’s main point, and add clearer transitions when shifting from environmental benefits to disadvantages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “carbon emission,” “fossil fuels,” “energy crisis,” and “business meetings and conferences,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “merits” and “in contrast.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “advantage on an environment,” “commuting by fly,” and “wisely use” of fuel. Spelling and word-form slips such as “reudce” and “re-generate” also reduce precision. Aim for natural combinations and consistent terminology: for example, refer to “air travel,” “environmental benefits,” and “reduce emissions.” This would make your argument clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional structure (“if commuting by fly is reduced, then it impacts positively”) and a concession in the conclusion (“although there are disadvantages…”). The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors occur across the response. For example, “Most of the airplane or spacecraft runs” has problems with number agreement, while “when combustion take place it release” lacks agreement and clear punctuation. Articles and sentence construction are also inconsistent, as in “Delhi AQI level is at dangerous state.” These errors sometimes make the reader pause, even though the main argument remains understandable. Practise subject–verb agreement, article use, and punctuation in longer sentences, and check each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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