Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-26

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 7.0)

Nowadays, some people choose to reduce the number of flights they take each year or avoid air travel altogether in an effort to protect the environment. In my opinion, environmental benefits of this trend outweigh the disadvantages because it helps reduce carbon emissions and air pollution despite creating certain challenges for individuals and businesses.

One significant benefit of reducing air travel is the decrease in Carbon Dioxide gas in air. Every flight releases a considerable amount of Carbon Dioxide into atmosphere. Therefore, reducing number of flights help reducing the carbon emissions, slowing global warming and protecting the environment for the future generations. Reducing no. of flights automatically improves air quality and protect ecosystems. Therefore, reducing air travel plays a vital role in protecting the environment.

However, travelling less by air can create several difficulties for both individuals and businesses. Firstly, visiting family abroad would become a challenge. Without travelling by air, it is quite impossible. Secondly, airlines earn less revenue. Thirdly, international businesses that rely on meetings may face delays. Lastly, tourism industry could face a major decline. However, these drawbacks are not impossible to overcome. Many companies now rely on video conferencing for meetings, while individuals can choose trains or other forms of transport for shorter journeys whenever possible.

To sum up, I believe that the environmental advantages of reducing air travel are more significant than the disadvantages because protecting the environment is a long-term priority, while most business and personal challenges can be addressed through alternative means such as virtual meetings and other forms of transport.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and logically developed. The environmental benefits are supported by the argument regarding carbon emissions, and the disadvantages are countered by practical solutions like video conferencing and alternative transport. While the development of ideas is clear, it could be further enhanced by providing more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. Overall, the response is well-focused and maintains a consistent position throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the benefits from the drawbacks. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'To sum up' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. The progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'carbon emissions', 'ecosystems', and 'video conferencing'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor issues with article usage (e.g., 'in air' instead of 'in the air', 'into atmosphere' instead of 'into the atmosphere'). To improve, the student should focus on more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to demonstrate greater flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('in air', 'into atmosphere', 'tourism industry') and pluralization ('reducing number of flights help reducing'). These errors do not impede communication but occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The student demonstrates a good grasp of basic sentence construction, but more consistent control over articles and subject-verb agreement is needed to reach the next level.

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