Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11
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 citizens believe that they have decided to decrease the numbers of times all people fly each year or other people argue that they was not flying altogether .it is true that prose are more then cons. both will be discussed in the following paragraphs .
Nowadays one major benefit is that reducing air can help less carbon emissions .Airplanes produce a large amount of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and climate change. Moreover if fewer people travel by air, these emissions could be reduced .In addition people may choose more environmentally friendly way to transport such as train and bus For example, at present people using a bicycle for travel to one place to another, while this could help create a cleaner and healthier environment.
On the others hand,reducing air travel can also cause some problems for individuals and businesses. For individuals, flying is often the quickest and most convenient way to travel long distances. People may find it more difficult to visit family members or travel abroad. For example businesses, fewer flights could make international meetings and business trips more difficult. Companies that depend on tourism and air travel could also lose customers and income.
Despite these disadvantages, I believe that the environmental benefits are more important. People can use alternatives such as video calls for business meetings and trains for shorter journeys. Therefore, reducing unnecessary air travel can make a significant contribution to protecting the environment.
In conclusion, although flying less may create difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe its positive environmental effects outweigh these disadvantages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and logically structured, covering both the environmental gains and the socio-economic drawbacks. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the point about bicycles is a bit disconnected from the main argument regarding air travel. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis of how businesses can adapt beyond just mentioning video calls. The position is consistent throughout, but the introduction is slightly confusing due to grammatical errors in the opening sentence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand'. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the opening sentence where the subject 'they' is ambiguous. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects back to the main thesis.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'greenhouse gases', 'global warming', and 'climate change'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'reducing air' instead of 'reducing air travel' and 'environmentally friendly way to transport' instead of 'environmentally friendly modes of transport'. The range is sufficient for the task, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise collocations would be beneficial.
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 frequent grammatical errors that affect the flow. Examples include 'they was not flying' (subject-verb agreement), 'prose are more then cons' (spelling and word choice), and 'people using a bicycle' (tense error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing after periods. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent verb tenses, and proofreading for basic mechanical errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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