Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-31
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 8.5)
Recently, a growing number of individuals have chosen to reduce their annual flight frequency or stop flying altogether. In my opinion, the environmental benefits of this trend far outweigh the disadvantages for both individuals and businesses. While cutting down on air travel may restrict personal leisure tourism, the rapid rise of remote work and digital business platforms ensures that economic and professional activities can thrive without physical travel.
On the one hand, restricting air travel challenges commerce and personal life. For individuals, it limits cultural exploration and makes visiting overseas family highly time-consuming. For businesses, less physical travel hinders international relations, as corporate deals often rely on face-to-face interactions to build trust. For example, manufacturing companies must sometimes send engineers across borders to troubleshoot equipment physically. Therefore, stopping flights can isolate communities and slow international commercial growth.
On the other hand, the environmental benefits are profound, and technology successfully mitigates the downsides. Aviation heavily contributes to global carbon emissions; thus, flying less directly slashes carbon footprints. Furthermore, digital infrastructure ensures businesses thrive without travel. Video conferencing and cloud software allow companies to seal global deals instantly. For instance, many tech giants now use virtual conferences, saving travel budgets while lowering emissions. Online jobs also let individuals work globally without commuting.
In conclusion, while reducing flights creates logistical hurdles for leisure and business, the environmental urgency far outweighs these inconveniences. Thanks to digital communication tools, individuals and corporations can remain highly productive and connected without relying on aviation. Ultimately, flying less is a vital step toward a sustainable future.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The arguments are well-developed, balancing the environmental benefits against the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. You provide relevant examples, such as the use of virtual conferences by tech giants and the role of engineers in troubleshooting, which effectively support your claims. The ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion provides a clear summary of your stance. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question posed, demonstrating a strong understanding of the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, starting with a clear introduction, followed by two body paragraphs that contrast the disadvantages and advantages, and concluding with a summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Furthermore', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout the text. The flow is smooth, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive transitions.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'mitigates the downsides', 'logistical hurdles', and 'environmental urgency' show a level of precision and sophistication. You use topic-specific vocabulary effectively, such as 'carbon footprints', 'digital infrastructure', and 'international commercial growth'. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, there is room to incorporate more idiomatic or less common collocations to reach the highest band. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your ideas clearly and with a professional tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While cutting down on air travel may restrict personal leisure tourism, the rapid rise of remote work... ensures that...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The use of modal verbs and conditional structures is accurate, contributing to a formal and persuasive tone. Your writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.
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