Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-02
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 individuals have chosen to fly less every year or stopped flying altogether. This essay will explain why I believe that the environmental advantages of this trend do not outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses.
One of the reasons why the environmental benefits of deciding to fly less or not to fly altogether do not outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses is that many people travel to a different country to unwind after a stressful period of time. For instance, certain people work hard all through the year and they are given a little period of time to rest from work and they believe that if they spend this period of time in the current country they live they will not have new things to explore or places to visit, so they usually decide to travel to another country.
Another main reason is that many jobs today require traveling and flight is one of the fastest mode of transportation. For example, many businessmen usually travel to different countries to check if they can invest or build new branches there, while other businesses involves the transportation of goods and services from one country to another and this also requires traveling. I believe that traveling by air causes little harm when it comes to the environment compared to other mode of transportation such as vehicles due to the release of harmful gasses such as carbon monoxide. If people reduce the number of times they fly every year, there will be an increase in the usage of vehicles which can significantly increase air pollution.
In summary, this essay explain why I contend that the environmental benefits of reducing the number of times people fly every year do not surpass the disadvantages for individuals and businesses because it can lead to environmental pollution.
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 essay addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the need for travel to unwind and for business purposes, the argument regarding the environmental impact of air travel versus ground transport is scientifically questionable and lacks depth. To reach a higher band, ensure your supporting arguments are logically sound and fully explored. The conclusion is brief and repeats the main point without adding synthesis. Overall, the response is relevant but would benefit from more nuanced analysis of the environmental trade-offs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'For instance', 'Another main reason', and 'In summary' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences can feel slightly mechanical. The transition between the idea of business travel and the comparison to vehicle pollution is abrupt, which affects the logical progression of the argument. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds naturally upon the previous one would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'unwind', 'invest', and 'surpass'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the use of 'traveling' and 'country'. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'fastest mode of transportation' (should be 'modes') and 'harmful gasses' (should be 'gases'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the essay. The current range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly but lacks the flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'other mode of transportation' (should be 'other modes') and 'this essay explain' (should be 'explains'). Additionally, some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'if they spend this period of time in the current country they live'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and pluralization will help improve your accuracy.
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