Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

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In recent times, flying has become more affordable to everyone, making many people fly often. Now, some people have decided to start reducing the number of times they fly every year or stop flying altogether to reduce the carbon emissions they make, which is very thoughtful and helpful for the environment. In my opinion this will bring a significant difference in reducing global carbon emissions. In this essay I will explain the reasons behind my opinion with relevant examples. Nowadays, there is a lot of pollution happening around the globe and it is increasing every year, travelling by plane is one of the major causes of it. So, if many people start reducing to fly it will help in controlling the carbon emission. For instance, if a person wants to visit a relative in another state he can drive there instead of flying, likewise people can start reducing unnecessary flights and benefit the environment. Conversely, people can not drive everywhere, so flying can not be avoided completely and many times flying is cheaper and faster to reach the destination. Furthermore, avoiding flying altogether will have an impact on many businesses and can make them less efficient. Therefore, people and businesses should make rational decisions and start reducing flying whenever they can. For example, businesses can stop flying employees on trips and have them use other means of transportation. In conclusion, if a significant number of people and businesses start limiting flying we can see a noticeable difference in carbon emission. Therefore, in my opinion the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that flying is a major cause of pollution and suggest driving as an alternative, the discussion regarding the impact on businesses is quite brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your arguments with more specific examples or deeper analysis. For instance, you could discuss the economic implications of reduced business travel or the role of video conferencing as a viable alternative. The essay maintains a consistent position throughout, but the depth of support for your claims needs to be more substantial to fully satisfy the requirements for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Conversely', and 'Therefore' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences can feel a bit mechanical at times. Some transitions are slightly repetitive, and the paragraphing could be improved to better separate the environmental arguments from the business-related ones. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure would benefit from more sophisticated linking words to improve the logical progression of your arguments. Ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence to guide the reader through your reasoning more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'carbon emissions', 'rational decisions', and 'environmental benefits'. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. There is a reliance on basic phrasing, such as 'a lot of pollution' and 'make a significant difference'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise, academic collocations and less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'a lot of pollution', you could use 'escalating levels of atmospheric pollution'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more nuanced synonyms will help demonstrate a higher level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'reducing to fly' should be 'reducing the frequency of flying', and 'flying can not be avoided' is slightly awkward. There are also some issues with punctuation and sentence boundary control. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on mastering complex sentence forms, such as conditional clauses or relative clauses, and pay closer attention to verb patterns and prepositional usage to ensure greater accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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