Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-30
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 6.5)
Some people have decided to take flights every year while others have completely stopped flying to help protect the environment. I think the good things that come from this are more important than the things.
On the one, hand flying less can be a problem for a lot of people. The fastest way to get to places that're really far away is by flying especially when it comes to work, school or visiting family. If people do not fly, they will have to spend time and money on other ways to travel. Also businesses that rely on people traveling from countries may lose customers.
On the hand, not flying as much is really good for the environment. Airplanes make a lot of carbon dioxide, which's bad for the earth and causes climate change. If more people take trains or buses for trips we can reduce the bad things we put into the air. Also if fewer people fly the government and companies might invest in ways to travel, like special fuel for airplanes and electric cars. These changes can help the environment and future generations.
In my opinion, the good things that happen to the environment are more important than the things that happen to people and businesses. Some industries might have some problems at first. They can change and do things in a way that is better, for the environment. We need to take care of the earth and one way to do that is to not fly when we do not have to. So I think this change is a thing even though it has some downsides.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the impact on businesses and the convenience of travel, these points are not fully extended with specific examples or deeper analysis. The arguments remain quite general, such as the mention of 'industries' or 'special fuel'. To reach a higher band, you should provide more concrete illustrations or elaborate on the causal links between reduced flying and economic shifts. The position is consistent throughout, but the depth of the discussion is currently at a basic level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use basic cohesive devices like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In my opinion' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of cohesive devices is repetitive. For example, the transition between the environmental benefits and the suggestion for government investment could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and better referencing to connect ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive language, such as 'good things', 'bad things', and 'things that happen'. These phrases are imprecise and lack academic tone. While you successfully use terms like 'carbon dioxide', 'climate change', and 'industries', the overall lexical range is limited. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated synonyms and collocations that demonstrate a better command of topic-specific vocabulary, moving away from generic words like 'thing' or 'way'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar, such as 'that're' (contraction), 'which's' (incorrect contraction), and missing commas after introductory phrases. The use of contractions like 'that're' is inappropriate for an academic essay. While you attempt complex sentences, they are often marred by these small errors. To improve, focus on eliminating contractions, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and refining your use of complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.
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