Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-19

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)

People are now considering avoiding air travels in order to save the environment. While it brings clear benefits, it also has drawbacks, both examined below, before I conclude the advantages dominates.

The principle advantage is to prevent air pollution and to reserve non-renewable resources. If the number of visits reduce, less planes would fly in the sky and cause less environmental pollution due to emission of fumes in the air. Furthermore, it could reduce the shortage of fuel, as less oil is being consumed by aviation. As a result, the nation would have plenty of oil and diesel, which can be utilized for other purposes such as to run turbines and industries. The state would not have to buy petroleum products from other countries in order to meet the demand. For instance, many citizens who are environmentally are running the campaigns of decreasing the plane visits and considering to travel by sustainable resource instead. Hence, these are the main reasons for omitting air travel.

Nevertheless, there are some disadvantages too. People can travel abroad within a short time-span by air instead of going by ships or cars that waste a lot of their time. If they have any emergency, they could have reached their destinations instead of waiting for days or months to arrive.For example, people can go for a world tour in a short duration during their holidays. Some travel for attending business meetings. If they would not reach earlier to the meetings, it could affect their jobs. Therefore, air travelling is convenient and flexible for the commuters.

In conclusion, although air travel offers convenience and to attend business meetings, its drawbacks such as air pollution and fuel consumption outweigh the advantages in my view. I think it is a more sustainable approach to avoid unnecessary air travels.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing arguments for both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. The position is clear throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the writer's stance. However, some ideas are slightly under-developed; for instance, the link between reducing air travel and the national economy (buying petroleum products) is a bit tenuous and could have been explained with more focus on the environmental aspect. The examples provided, such as the mention of business meetings and world tours, are relevant and support the arguments well. Overall, the response is well-structured and fulfills 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 topic, and the progression of ideas is generally smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore,' 'Nevertheless,' and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. However, there are some minor issues with referencing and flow; for example, the transition between the environmental benefits and the economic impact could be more seamless. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure allows the reader to follow the argument without difficulty. The use of cohesive devices is sufficient, though not always sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'sustainable approach' and 'utilized,' which are used correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'running the campaigns of decreasing the plane visits' (should be 'campaigns to reduce air travel') and 'environmentally are' (should be 'environmentally conscious'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. A wider range of precise vocabulary would improve the overall quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'advantages dominates' (should be 'advantages dominate'), 'less planes' (should be 'fewer planes'), and 'if they would not reach earlier' (should be 'if they did not reach'). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings like 'many citizens who are environmentally are running the campaigns.' Despite these errors, the meaning is consistently clear, and the writer shows an ability to use complex structures, even if they are not always perfectly executed. Punctuation is generally accurate, though there is a missing space after a period in the second paragraph.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.