Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-03

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 cut down on traveling by plane on the grounds that it has a negative impact on the environment. I would argue that the disadvantages of this development overshadow the advantages as it is at the cost of efficiency and convenience.

First and foremost, it is worth acknowledging the reason why people want to reduce the number of times they fly every year. While individuals are going on a vacation by plane, their carbon footprint is increasing rapidly as planes can release far more greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide, than other transports. This results in many environmental issues, such as global warming and floods. For instance, because of the increased sea level caused by melting icebergs, some island countries in Asia are struggling to save people's lives from floods.

Nevertheless, in order to address environmental issues fundamentally, governments outgh to raise citizens' awareness first rather than simply encourage them to fly fewer times. For example, it is possible for elected officials to post some short videos on the internet in which people can learn the importance of protecting the environment and how to preserve natural resources. In addition to that, it must be realised that developing the economy and the quality of life is usually at odds with maintaining a sustainable environment. To illustrate this, after stopping using planes, some international companies may face several problems as lots of their meetings may be delayed. Similarly, on the individual level, people might travel internationally less and have fewer opportunities to experience other cultures, which is crucial for personel growth.

In conclusion, despite the fact that reducing the times of traveling by plane can accordingly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases, we cannot ignore this approach's downsides, such as causing inconvenience for companies and limiting personel growth. The better way to overcome the environmental issues we are facing might be making the general public aware of the current situations by taking the advantage of social media.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the disadvantages of reducing air travel outweigh the environmental benefits. The ideas are relevant, such as the impact on international business and personal growth. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the environmental argument is supported with a specific example regarding rising sea levels, the counter-argument regarding business and personal growth is less detailed and could have been expanded with more concrete examples. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the environmental argument from the economic and personal implications. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Nevertheless', and 'In addition to that' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, there is a slight mechanical feel to some of the transitions, and the flow between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to better integrate the opposing viewpoints.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'carbon footprint', 'greenhouse gases', and 'sustainable environment' correctly. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'outgh' instead of 'ought' and 'personel' instead of 'personal'. While the range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. The use of phrases like 'taking the advantage of' is slightly unnatural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'While individuals are going on a vacation' (should be 'When') and 'reducing the times of traveling' (should be 'reducing the frequency of travel'). Punctuation is generally accurate, though some phrasing is slightly awkward. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the errors present do not impede communication, which is consistent with a band 6.5 or 7.0 performance.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.