Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-17
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 6.0)
The environmental damage that flying causes has been a long-term concern for a large number of people. Some individuals have made a decision to cut down on the number of times they take a flight or to overall stop traveling by air. There are numerous benefits to this trend, however I personally think that the disadvantages for Individuals and business outweigh the advantages.
Flying less has several assets for the environment. It reduces a person's carbon footprint and makes them opt for a more environmentally friendly option. Due to the release of huge amount of carbon dioxide, it is one of the main causes of global warming. Although it gives people a chance to get to their destination in the shortest amount of time, it is detrimental for the air.
On the other hand, I personally believe that this should be an issue handled by the government. Traveling by air has provided a huge amount of benefits to ordinary people and businesses. For the first time in history, family member who live far away from each other have the chance to travel to their hometowns to visit their relatives and loved ones. Moreover, transportation by air has made a significant number of goods more accessible for everyone. Consequently, the authorities ought to find ways to prohibit excessive number of flights that are not a necessity. For instance, celebrities and affluent people choose planes over any other transportation method to travel from city to city which can have a disastrous affect on the planet.
In conclusion, I genuinely believe that these steps taken by ordinary people can have a big influence on stopping global issues, but this cannot be tackled by the masses. The government should engage in regulating the air traffic for bigger companies and individuals, moreover take measures to take care of the world around us.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You acknowledge the environmental benefits but argue that the disadvantages for individuals and businesses are more significant, ultimately suggesting government intervention as the solution. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, though the argument regarding the 'disadvantages' could be more deeply explored. For instance, you mention that air travel allows families to visit each other, but you could further elaborate on the economic impact on the aviation industry or the limitations on global trade to strengthen the 'disadvantages' side of your argument. Overall, the response is focused and meets the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Consequently', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between the environmental benefits and the government's role could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. To reach a higher band, ensure that cohesive devices are used more naturally and that the relationship between sentences is consistently clear.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'carbon footprint', 'detrimental', and 'affluent'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'several assets' (where 'benefits' or 'advantages' would be more natural) and 'disastrous affect' (should be 'effect'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the precision is occasionally lacking. To improve, focus on using collocations more accurately and expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary related to environmental policy and economics.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'family member who live' (should be 'family members who live') and 'prohibit excessive number of flights' (missing an article: 'an excessive number'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some minor errors in sentence construction. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and these errors do not impede communication, but they do prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and article usage to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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