Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In recent times, air travel has become significantly more affordable, encouraging many people to fly more frequently than ever before. In response, some individuals have chosen to reduce the number of flights they take each year, or to stop flying altogether, in an effort to lower their carbon emissions. In my opinion, the environmental benefits of this shift outweigh the disadvantages it creates for individuals and businesses. In this essay, I will explain the reasoning behind my opinion with relevant examples.

To begin with, air travel remains one of the leading contributors to global carbon emissions, and this problem continues to worsen each year. If a significant number of people reduce how often they fly, it would meaningfully help control these emissions. For instance, someone travelling to visit a relative in another state could choose to drive instead of flying. In the same way, avoiding unnecessary short-haul flights allows individuals to directly reduce their environmental footprint while still meeting their travel needs.

That said, flying cannot be avoided entirely, since driving is not always practical, particularly for international travel or journeys across vast distances, where flying might take a few hours compared to several days by road. In addition, cutting flights altogether could negatively affect businesses, as employees often need to travel for important meetings or negotiations that cannot be conducted remotely. Replacing flights with slower means of transport in such cases could lead to missed opportunities and reduced efficiency.

In conclusion, while flying remains necessary in certain situations for both individuals and businesses, encouraging a broader reduction in unnecessary air travel would lead to a meaningful decrease in global carbon emissions. Therefore, I believe the environmental advantages of this shift outweigh its drawbacks

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and logically developed. The argument is balanced, acknowledging the necessity of air travel for international business and long-distance journeys while advocating for a reduction in unnecessary flights. The response is well-structured, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that explore both sides of the argument, and a concise conclusion. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific examples or data to support the claims, such as mentioning the impact of specific types of short-haul flights or the economic implications for the tourism industry.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear central theme, and the transition between the environmental benefits and the practical disadvantages is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'For instance', 'That said', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the ideas is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'carbon emissions', 'short-haul flights', 'environmental footprint', and 'remotely'. The language is generally precise, and the word choices are natural. While the range is adequate for the task, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common academic vocabulary to demonstrate a wider lexical range. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, and the tone remains formal and academic throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional structures ('If a significant number of people reduce...') and subordinate clauses ('...where flying might take a few hours compared to several days by road'). The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly. The control over grammar is consistent, and the few minor slips do not interfere with the clarity of the message. The student shows a solid ability to construct complex ideas accurately.

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