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)

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 'disadvantages for individuals and businesses' is quite brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on these points with more specific examples or deeper analysis. For instance, you could elaborate on how specific industries like international trade or tourism are impacted, rather than just stating they become 'less efficient'. The conclusion effectively summarizes your stance, but the overall depth of the argument remains at a basic level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central focus. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In recent times', 'For instance', 'Conversely', and 'Therefore' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes a bit mechanical or repetitive. The flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is more precise. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a band 6.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use some topic-specific terms like 'carbon emissions' and 'environment'. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and relies on fairly common words. There is little evidence of less common or more sophisticated lexical items. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and collocations. For example, instead of 'a lot of pollution', you could use 'escalating levels of environmental degradation'. The current range is adequate for the task but does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher band.

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, such as 'reducing to fly' (should be 'reducing how often they fly') and 'flying can not be avoided' (should be 'flying cannot be avoided'). Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences are slightly clunky. You demonstrate a basic control of grammar, but the frequency of errors prevents a higher score. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of gerunds and infinitives. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures would also help elevate your score.

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

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