Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-01

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 8.0)

While it is undeniable that flying frequently contributes to environmental degradation, I only partially agree with the notion that stopping air travel altogether is the ultimate solution. In my view, although reducing flights offers clear environmental benefits, it is equally critical to recognize that severely restricting air travel creates significant drawbacks for international business and personal freedom.

On the one hand, there is no doubt that limiting air travel yields significant environmental advantages. The main driving force behind this is that aviation emissions contribute heavily to carbon output and atmospheric pollution. Were individuals to reduce non-essential flights, global carbon footprints would decrease noticeably. A clear case in point is studies showing the sharp drop in emissions during flight reductions in recent years. Thus, this aspect of the argument is entirely valid.

On the other hand, it would be a mistake to assume that completely eliminating air travel is without severe consequences. This is primarily because global commerce and tourism rely heavily on fast long-distance transportation. Not only does restricting flights damage international business operations, but it also isolates individuals from global opportunities and families abroad. For example, developing economies heavily dependent on foreign tourism would suffer massive revenue losses. Hence, a more balanced perspective is required.

In conclusion, while reducing unnecessary flights clearly benefits the environment, I firmly believe that the severe drawbacks to global trade and individual mobility mean air travel cannot be abandoned entirely. Ultimately, sustainable aviation technology should complement, rather than completely replace, our reliance on traditional air travel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt effectively. Your position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. The arguments regarding environmental benefits versus the economic and social drawbacks are well-balanced. You provide relevant supporting points, such as the impact on developing economies and the role of global commerce. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your examples; for instance, mentioning a specific industry or a type of technology that could mitigate environmental impact would add more depth to your analysis. Overall, the response is well-developed and directly answers the question.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the environmental benefits and the economic disadvantages is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'A clear case in point', and 'Hence', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'environmental degradation', 'atmospheric pollution', and 'sustainable aviation technology' show an ability to use topic-specific language effectively. Your word choice is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic context. To improve further, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a wider range. For example, instead of 'clear environmental benefits', you could use 'tangible ecological advantages'. The vocabulary used is more than adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

You display a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional forms ('Were individuals to reduce...') and subordinate clauses ('While it is undeniable that...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. The grammar is consistently accurate, which allows for clear communication of your ideas. There are no significant errors that impede understanding. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with a slightly wider variety of complex structures, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, to further showcase your grammatical flexibility.

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