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)

Transportation by air is the driving force for globalization. However, many people have reduced their travel by air considering the environment benefits such as fuel conservation and reduced pollution, which makes the positive aspects more reasonable than the negative.

Airplanes run on fuel made from natural elements excavated out from the earth's surface. With less number of flights the amount of fuel required decreases, therefore, generating a lower demand for limited resources. However, lowering of international travels can often cause a downfall for business with clients who are abroad, but this can be solved by use of modern technology and interacting through platforms liker GoogleMeet and Skype.

Aircrafts also emit lost of harmful smoke and gases to the air, causing pollution. Therefore limiting the times a person travels by air can altogether make an impact towards protecting the environment from pollutions. One drawback of less flying is creation of an emotional distance between physically separated family members who live abroad, but people can responsibly plan their travel in a way that they fly less times and spend more time with their loved ones.

In conclusion, considering reduced pollution and less depletion of natural fuel resources as positives of such development, it outstrips the negatives such as poor interpersonal relationship and loss in business.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the position is clear, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the point about business travel is mentioned but not fully explored, and the environmental impact is discussed in general terms. To reach a higher band, you must expand on your points with more detailed explanations and specific examples to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is a clear progression of ideas, and cohesive devices such as 'however', 'therefore', and 'in conclusion' are used to link sentences and paragraphs. However, the transitions are sometimes a bit mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall structure feels slightly underdeveloped due to the brevity of the response. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that is fully supported by the subsequent sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are some instances of slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'natural elements excavated out from the earth's surface' and 'lost of harmful smoke'. While the meaning is clear, the choice of words is somewhat basic. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to the environment and business, and pay closer attention to collocations and word forms to ensure your writing sounds more natural and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'With less number of flights' (should be 'With a smaller number of flights' or 'With fewer flights') and 'fly less times' (should be 'fly less frequently'). Punctuation is generally correct, but the sentence variety is limited. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use a wider range of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, and ensure that your subject-verb agreement and word order are consistently accurate.

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

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