Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-09
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)
Some people are choosing to fly less frequently or stop travelling by air altogether. Although this decision may create certain difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that its environmental benefits are greater.
On the one hand, reducing air travel can create several disadvantages for individuals and businesses. Firstly, people may find it more difficult to travel long distances, particularly when visiting family members or studying abroad. In addition, businesses that depend on international travel may suffer financially because employees cannot meet overseas clients as easily. For example, international companies may need to spend more time using online meetings instead of conducting face-to-face discussions.
On the other hand, the environmental benefits of reducing air travel are more significant. The main advantage is that fewer flights would lead to lower carbon emissions, which are a major contributor to climate change. Furthermore, people may choose alternative forms of transport, such as trains, which generally produce fewer emissions. If fewer people travelled by air, the overall environmental impact of the transport sector could therefore be reduced.
In conclusion, although reducing air travel could cause inconvenience for individuals and create financial difficulties for some businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits outweigh these disadvantages because it can reduce emissions and encourage more sustainable forms of transportation.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the position is clear throughout, the ideas are somewhat underdeveloped due to the brevity. To achieve a higher band, you must expand on your points with more detailed examples or explanations. For instance, when discussing business impacts, you could elaborate on the specific economic consequences for the tourism or aviation industries to provide a more comprehensive analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'In addition,' and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is logical, and each paragraph has a clear central topic. However, because the response is quite short, the overall structure feels somewhat thin. To improve, ensure that each paragraph contains a more robust development of ideas to enhance the flow and logical progression of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is generally accurate and appropriate for the task. You have used some topic-specific terms such as 'carbon emissions,' 'sustainable,' and 'environmental impact.' However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and lacks the variety of less common or idiomatic expressions that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations related to the topic of climate change and global travel to demonstrate a wider range of lexical resources.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay demonstrates a good level of grammatical accuracy, with most sentences being error-free. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional sentence 'If fewer people travelled by air, the overall environmental impact... could therefore be reduced.' Punctuation is generally correct, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. To reach a higher band, aim to include a greater variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or more advanced relative clauses, while maintaining this level of accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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