Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In recent years, graoing awareness of climate change has led some individuals to cut down on air travel or completely give it up. While this trend definitely creates difficulties for businesses that rely on aviation, I believe the environmental gains are far more significant.

The primary benefit of reducing flights is a notable decrease in the carbon emissions. Air travel is one of the major source of carbon dioxide and monoxide release and accounts for a considerable share in greenhouse gases. If more people chooses trains or stayed closer for to home for holidays, the cumulative reduction in emissions could meaningfully slow the global warming. For example, campaigns like "flight shame" in Sweden have already encouraged thousands to take rail instead of short-haul flights, demonstrating that individual choices can have a real impact.

However, there are clear drawbacks. For individuals, cutting out flights limits opportunities to visit family abroad, experience different cultures, or take part in international events. For businesses, especially tourism and export sectors, fewer passengers means reduced revenue, job losses, and slower global trade. Airlines themselves may struggle to survive without sufficient demand, and remote regions that depend on air links could become isolated.

Despite these disadvantages, they can be mitigated through alternatives. Video conferencing has largely replaced business trips, and high-speed rail offers a viable option for many domestic routes. Meanwhile, the environmental cost of flying is difficult to offset. Therefore, the long-term benefits to the planet and future generations outweigh the short-term inconveniences for individuals and industries.

In conclusion, although reducing air travel poses challenges, the environmental advantages are too important to ignore. Governments and companies should support greener alternatives so that people can stay connected without damaging the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Your arguments are well-developed, particularly the discussion on the impact on businesses and the mention of technological alternatives like video conferencing. The response is balanced, acknowledging the drawbacks while maintaining a consistent stance. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your examples; for instance, elaborating on how specific industries might adapt beyond just mentioning them would add more depth to your analysis.

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 such as 'However,' 'Despite these disadvantages,' and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. The transition between the environmental benefits and the economic drawbacks is smooth. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is natural. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'they' in the third paragraph clearly refers to the disadvantages, which is well-handled.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'mitigated,' 'cumulative,' and 'aviation' appropriately. There are some minor errors, such as 'graoing' (likely a typo for 'growing') and 'major source of... release,' which is slightly awkward phrasing. However, these do not impede communication. You show an ability to use less common vocabulary, which supports your argument well. Focusing on more precise collocations will help you move into the higher band range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are a few grammatical slips, such as 'major source of... release' (should be 'sources') and 'more people chooses' (should be 'choose'). Additionally, 'closer for to home' contains an unnecessary preposition. Despite these occasional errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over complex structures is generally good. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and eliminating redundant prepositions will enhance your accuracy.

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

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