Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-08

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 7.0)

Air travel has become an essential part of modern life, allowing people to travel quickly and conveniently around the world. However, the increasing use of air transportation has raised concerns about its impact on the environment. As a result, some people are choosing to fly less frequently, while others have decided to stop travelling by plane altogether. I believe that the environmental benefits of this development outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses.

To commence with, fewer flights can help reduce carbon emissions. A reduction in air travel leads to lower fuel consumption and fewer carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, which can help tackle climate change and reduce the effects of global warming. To exemplify this, if a large number of people choose to travel by train instead of taking short-distance flights, the overall amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere can be significantly reduced. Consequently, this can contribute to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future.

Conversely, reducing air travel can have negative effects on individuals and businesses. For individuals, avoiding flights can make travelling long distances less convenient, as flights are often the fastest way to travel internationally. Moreover, some businesses depend on face-to-face meetings with international clients, and reducing business travel may make communication and relationship-building more difficult. For example, a company that regularly meets overseas clients may find it challenging to establish trust and negotiate important deals through online meetings alone. As a result, limiting air travel could negatively affect business relationships and international opportunities.

In conclusion, although reducing the frequency of flights may cause inconvenience for individuals and create difficulties for some businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits outweigh these disadvantages. Lower levels of air travel can reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions, which can contribute to tackling climate change and global warming. At the same time, alternatives such as trains, buses and online meetings can help people and businesses adapt to reduced air travel and encourage more sustainable habits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it consistently throughout the essay. The arguments for both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of train travel versus short-haul flights and the challenges of building trust through online meetings. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points and reinforces your stance. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the discussion by briefly addressing the 'scale' of the impact or providing a more nuanced view on how businesses might mitigate these disadvantages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the environmental benefits and the disadvantages is smooth, signaled by the use of 'Conversely'. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'To exemplify this', and 'As a result' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'tackle climate change', 'greenhouse gases', and 'sustainable future' are used accurately. There is an attempt to use less common items, and your word choice is generally appropriate for an academic context. While the vocabulary is effective, it is functional rather than sophisticated. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more precise collocations or idiomatic academic expressions to demonstrate a more flexible and fluent command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('if a large number of people choose...') and concessive clauses ('although reducing the frequency...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To move toward a band 8 or 9, ensure that you continue to vary your sentence length and structure even further, and aim for absolute consistency in complex grammatical forms.

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

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