Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-12

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 5.5)

Over recent years,Some individuals have decided to cut down the quantity of times they fly every years or to stop flying altogether has become hotly debated issue in society. This matter particularly significance due to its impact on lack of finance, business problem,influencing both individuals and communities. While some people argue that business problem companies may lose international customers and business opportunities.

I firmly, believe that encourages sustainable travel people may choose trains buses or other greener transport.

In this essay I will present supporting my viewpoint and potential counterarguments.

Some people believe that airlines, airports, hotels, and tourism workers may lose income. Because if fewer people fly hotels near airports might see a drop in bookings. For instance in a popular tourist destination like Bali, If fewer tourists are flying in, local hotels and restaurants see a drop in customers. Although this viewpoint may seem valid to some extent, I believe its overlook several key aspects.

Nevertheless, these arguments are not entirely convincing when weighed against the border implications.

One of main reason I support reducing air travel is beneficial because it can decrease carbon emissions and protect the environment.Various studies and real-life examples have shown that some people have decided to drawback the amount of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether often airlines,hotel, airport, and tourism business may face financial losses, and some workers could lose their jobs or work fewer hours.

Therefore, it is clear that may opinion is well-founded and supported by both evidence and reasoning.

In conclusion, I believe that many people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every years or to stop flying altogether clearly support although reducing air travel may cause financial losses for airlines and tourism businesses, the environmental benefits are more important. Moving, forward it is essential to recognize the advantages of this viewpoint and apply it in ways that foster positive outcomes for both individuals and society as a whole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the economic disadvantages of reducing air travel. However, the development of ideas is inconsistent. The introduction is fragmented and lacks a clear, cohesive thesis statement. While the essay attempts to present a balanced view, the arguments are often repetitive and lack depth. For instance, the paragraph regarding Bali is a good start, but the subsequent paragraph repeats the same points about financial losses rather than extending the argument. The position is clear, but the overall structure of the argument is somewhat disjointed, preventing a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses some cohesive devices such as 'Nevertheless', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion', but their usage is often mechanical or incorrectly placed. Paragraphing is present, but the logical progression between ideas is frequently interrupted by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. The introduction is particularly problematic, as it fails to flow logically into the body paragraphs. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the counter-argument and the author's own viewpoint is abrupt. The overall arrangement is coherent enough to follow, but the lack of smooth transitions limits the flow of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'drawback the amount of times' instead of 'reduce the frequency', and 'lack of finance' which does not accurately convey the intended meaning of economic impact. The student repeats phrases like 'reduce the number of times they fly' multiple times, which limits the lexical range. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and the presence of word-choice errors prevent a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and sentence construction. Many sentences are fragmented or run-on, such as 'Over recent years,Some individuals have decided... has become hotly debated issue'. There are also consistent issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage (e.g., 'may opinion', 'the border implications'). While the meaning is usually understandable, the high frequency of grammatical errors throughout the text significantly impacts the clarity and professional tone of the writing.

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