Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-10

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)

The ever-increasing carbon footprint is a major threat to our environment. If this issue is side-lined, it would only escalate the hazards that it poses to the environment. In view of this, some folks have decided to decrease the count of times they board flights every 12 months or to stop flying altogether. I am in favour of this development and in this essay, I shall be discussing both the pros and cons of it, delving deeper into its bright side.

Aeroplanes, either it be commercial planes or private jets, all run on fuel which is a non-renewable resource. Reducing the number of flights people take every year would significantly decrease the amount of fuel used. Consequently, we would be able to save up fossil fuels for our other current needs like land transport, running generators and machines in industries in addition to accumulating it for the future generations. Another positive impact it may have is the restoration of the ozone layer. Lesser flights would mean lesser quantities of harmful gases emitted into the atmosphere. These gases include nitrogen and carbon derivatives which deplete the ozone layer. The initiative taken by people would aid in reducing global warming and even fix the hole in the ozone.

Despite the numerous advantages, this arrangement may act as a set-back for some individuals and businesses. It would hinder the work of industrialists and political diplomats who have to regularly make trips abroad as a part of their jobs. Moreover, owners of commercial airlines would suffer financial losses and may even have to downsize, causing recession among pilots and air hostesses.

However, this is indeed a boon for mother nature. For instance, people in Hyderabad, India have started using public land transport to travel within India and even for international trips, they use flights that contribute to significantly lesser carbon emissions. This has helped retain the environmental balance in the city and lower the air quality index significantly.

To conclude, however reducing the number of flights people take may affect the profits of businessmen, this is crucial for protecting our environment and is a great leap towards a healthier and greener earth. Taking less flights helps to save the fuel and reduce the carbon footprint which in turn would be catalytic in mending the ozone hole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the environmental arguments. However, the discussion regarding the disadvantages for individuals and businesses is somewhat brief and could have been extended with more specific examples to reach a higher band. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main argument. Overall, the response is well-focused and maintains a consistent stance throughout, meeting the requirements for a Band 7 score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Consequently', 'Moreover', and 'However' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the argument, ensuring the reader can navigate the text without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some precision. The student uses topic-specific terms such as 'carbon footprint', 'non-renewable resource', and 'atmospheric'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'recession among pilots' (which is not the correct context for job losses) and 'fix the hole in the ozone'. Despite these minor slips, the range of vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly, and the student attempts to use less common items, which is characteristic of a Band 6.5 or 7.0 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. For instance, 'If this issue is side-lined, it would only escalate...' is a well-constructed conditional sentence. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'either it be' (should be 'whether it be') and 'taking less flights' (should be 'taking fewer flights'). However, the majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout the essay, supporting a solid Band 7 rating.

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

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