Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-13

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)

Some people have chosen to reduce the number of times they fly each year or stop flying altogether. I believe the environmental benefits of this development outweigh the disadvantages for both individuals and businesses.

The main advantage is that fewer flights can help reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. Air travel produces a significant amount of greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. If fewer people travel by plane, demand for flights may decrease, encouraging airlines to reduce emissions and adopt more environmentally friendly technologies. This can also improve air quality and help protect the environment for future generations.

However, reducing air travel can create some disadvantages. For individuals, flying is often the fastest and most convenient way to travel long distances, particularly for holidays or visiting family abroad. Businesses may also suffer because international flights are important for meetings, conferences and developing relationships with overseas clients. Nevertheless, online meetings and video conferencing can replace many business trips, while trains can be used for shorter journeys.

In conclusion, although reducing air travel may cause inconvenience for individuals and businesses, I believe its positive impact on the environment is more important. Therefore, the environmental benefits clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

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-length at 198 words, which prevents the full development of ideas required for a higher band. While the position is clear throughout, the arguments remain somewhat superficial. To reach a higher band, you must expand on your points with more detailed examples or deeper analysis. For instance, you could elaborate on specific industries affected or provide concrete examples of how technology is mitigating the need for travel. The failure to meet the minimum word count is a major constraint on the depth of your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, 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 'The main advantage', 'However', and 'In conclusion' effectively to signal shifts in your argument. To improve, you could incorporate a wider range of cohesive devices and ensure that the transition between sentences is more fluid. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the brevity of the content makes the overall structure feel somewhat thin.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'greenhouse gases', 'environmentally friendly technologies', and 'video conferencing' correctly. The language is generally natural and conveys your meaning clearly. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and lacks the variety of less common lexical items that would elevate the score to a 7.0 or higher. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations related to environmental policy and economic impact, rather than relying on general terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'If fewer people travel by plane, demand for flights may decrease'. There are very few grammatical errors, and your punctuation is correct. The sentences are clear and easy to read. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to include a greater variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or conditional forms, to demonstrate more flexibility in your writing. Currently, the sentence structures are functional but relatively straightforward.

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

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