Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Nowadays, some people are choosing to reduce the number of times they travel by air, while others have decided to stop flying completely. Although this decision can create some difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits of reducing air travel outweigh the disadvantages.

One major environmental benefit is the reduction in carbon emissions. Airplanes consume large amounts of fuel and release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. If fewer people fly, the demand for air travel will decrease, which can lead to lower emissions. For example, people could choose trains for shorter journeys instead of taking domestic flights. This would not only reduce pollution but also encourage the development of more sustainable forms of transportation.

However, reducing air travel can have some negative effects on individuals and businesses. For individuals, flying is often the fastest and most convenient way to travel long distances. People may therefore spend more time travelling if they use trains or other forms of transport. Businesses could also face difficulties because international flights are important for meetings, conferences and maintaining relationships with overseas clients. Consequently, companies that depend heavily on international travel might lose some opportunities.

Nevertheless, many of these disadvantages can be reduced through modern technology. For instance, video-conferencing platforms allow employees to attend meetings with international clients without travelling. In addition, businesses can use trains for shorter domestic journeys. These alternatives can save both time and money while reducing their environmental impact.

In conclusion, although reducing air travel may cause inconvenience for individuals and businesses, I believe its environmental advantages are more significant. A reduction in flights can help lower carbon emissions and encourage people and companies to adopt more sustainable methods of travelling and communicating.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. The environmental benefits are well-explained, and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses are acknowledged and balanced. Your ideas are relevant and supported by logical reasoning, such as the mention of video-conferencing as a mitigation strategy. To reach a higher band, you could further develop the 'disadvantages' section by providing a more specific example of how a particular industry or type of business is negatively impacted, rather than keeping the discussion at a general level. Overall, the response is well-structured and fully addresses the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices effectively to link your points. For example, the transition from the environmental benefits to the disadvantages is handled smoothly with the word 'However', and the shift to the counter-argument is marked by 'Nevertheless'. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that the relationship between sentences is always explicit; while your current use of linking words is good, incorporating a wider variety of cohesive devices would enhance the sophistication of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'carbon emissions', 'sustainable forms of transportation', and 'video-conferencing platforms' are used accurately and appropriately in context. Your word choice is generally natural, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. To move into the higher band, try to incorporate more 'less common' lexical items or idiomatic collocations. For instance, instead of 'create some difficulties', you could use 'pose significant challenges', and instead of 'reduce', you might use 'mitigate' or 'alleviate'. This would add more academic weight to your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is strong, and you use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. You successfully use conditional structures ('If fewer people fly, the demand... will decrease') and complex noun phrases. There are no major grammatical errors that affect clarity. To achieve a higher score, aim to include a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or inverted sentences, to demonstrate greater flexibility. However, the current level of accuracy is very high, and the writing is consistently clear and professional.

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

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