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)
Nowadays, many people choose to fly less every year or completely stop traveling by airplane. Although this decision causes some drawbacks for individuals and businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits are much more important.
On the one hand, reducing air travel creates clear disadvantages for individuals and companies. For individual travelers, flying is the fastest way to travel long distances. If people stop flying, taking trains or buses takes much more time, which makes holidays shorter and less convenient. In addition, many international businesses need air travel to meet clients, attend global meetings, and sign contracts. If businessmen cannot travel easily, foreign trade and tourism industries will lose money, which can affect the global economy.
On the other hand, the benefits for the environment are very significant. Airplanes produce a large amount of carbon emissions and air pollution, which are major causes of global warming and climate change. If people reduce the number of flights, overall carbon pollution will drop quickly. Furthermore, this change encourages people to use greener alternatives, such as trains or video calls for business meetings. Protecting our planet and stopping severe weather changes are essential for everyone's future.
In conclusion, although flying less brings some problems for personal travel and business growth, I think the environmental advantages outweigh these disadvantages because protecting the planet and reducing pollution are more urgent issues today.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, presenting a clear position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement (227 words), which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the arguments regarding business impact and environmental protection are relevant, they lack sufficient depth and specific examples to reach a higher band. The ideas are presented clearly but remain somewhat superficial due to the brevity of the response. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations or concrete examples to ensure you meet the length requirement and provide a more thorough analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'In addition,' and 'Furthermore' effectively to link your points. However, the range of cohesive devices is somewhat limited, and the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall structure feels slightly mechanical. To achieve a higher score, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the flow between sentences is more fluid and less predictable.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'carbon emissions,' 'global warming,' and 'greener alternatives' correctly. The language is generally natural and conveys your meaning clearly without any significant errors. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the 'less common' or more sophisticated lexical items required for higher bands. For instance, words like 'problems' and 'important' are used where more precise academic alternatives could be employed. To improve, focus on incorporating more topic-specific collocations and academic synonyms to add precision and variety to your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If people stop flying...') and complex clauses effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors that impede communication. While the control of grammar is solid, the range of structures is somewhat limited; there is a lack of more advanced grammatical features such as passive voice or varied subordinate clauses that would demonstrate greater flexibility. The punctuation is correct throughout. To reach a higher band, aim to integrate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures more consistently.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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