Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-04

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 6.0)

Many people have decided to take the initiative of either avoiding travelling by air as much as possible or completely bycotting it altogether. I firmly believe that the environmental advantages of this development do not exceed its drawbacks.

A key justification for this stance is that it will inhibit people's ability to meet their loved ones across the globe. So many people have their families living in different countries and rely on air travel to meet them. Simply meeting their families can be a challenge if people decide to stop travelling by air. For example, thousands of people in Pakistan travel by planes every year to visit their families living abroad. If these people reduce the number of times they travel by air, they can develop strong feelings of loneliness, sadness and stress.

Additionally, this development can cause financial losses to businesses. Many organisations make business deals or contracts with foreign companies. Sometimes, in order for a contract to be finalised companies might send their representatives to the foreign country so that the dealings can proceed smoothly. And the fastest and most convenient way to travel between countries is air travel. If business do not have this form of transport available, it can delay business meetings or can cause them to lose clients. As a result, organisations can sustain huge financial setbacks. For example, during the years of COVID-19 air travel was strictly limited. This caused economic loss to business organisations all around the world.

However, critics of this stance believe that this initiative is necessary to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. But it is important to consider that if people stop using air travel, then other forms of transportation wilL become more popular. Cars, buses and motorbikes will be used more often and these machines emit carbon into the environment as well. Just bycotting or reducing air will not solve the environmental crisis. A multi-faceted approach is necessary. Unnecessary travelling by air should be avoided and more environmentally sustainable forms of transport should be introduced. For example, e-bikes, car/bus engines that do not emit harmful gases should be made available. Planes and jets should have more eco-friendly designs to reduce the amount of fuel burned.

Conclusively, while those who think this is a positive development think that this step will reduce the emission of harmful gases, but I hold the view that the other measures need to be taken to eliminate this issue. Outright bycotting air travel will cause people to lose connections with their families living abroad and cause financial loss to businesses

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt and maintained a clear position throughout the essay. Your arguments regarding personal relationships and business impacts are relevant and well-supported with examples. However, the development of the counter-argument could be more nuanced; while you acknowledge the environmental perspective, the transition to your rebuttal is slightly abrupt. To reach a higher band, ensure that your conclusion does not merely repeat the points made but synthesises them more effectively to reinforce your central thesis. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the question asked.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'However', and 'As a result' to link your points. While the flow is generally smooth, some of the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of your argument. Referencing is generally clear, though ensure that pronouns consistently point back to the intended nouns to maintain absolute clarity throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'take the initiative', 'sustain huge financial setbacks', and 'multi-faceted approach' show a good command of language. However, there are some spelling errors, such as 'bycotting' (boycotting), which occur multiple times. Additionally, some word choices are slightly repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'travel' and 'business' to enhance the sophistication of your writing. The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but more precise, less common lexical items would elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'If business do not have' (should be 'businesses') and 'wilL' (capitalisation error). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. Your control over punctuation is generally good, though ensure that you maintain consistency in formal writing. To achieve a higher band, aim for a greater variety of complex structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, used with more consistent accuracy.

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