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)
Many individuals have decided to stop visiting other countries or cities to reduce the number of flights they take each year, or to completely end flying altogether. Although this development has environmental benefits, I believe that air transportation helps individuals grow their businesses in other parts of the world and also saves travel time.
To begin with, I agree that fuel emissions in the air by planes are harmful for living creatures on earth but on the other hand, planes are the fastest way to travel from one place to another in a short time. It helps individuals to expand their businesses internationally and support their country's economy. For example, when one country exports its items globally, such activity can make the country's economy stronger and reduces poverty to some extent.
Moreover, traveling plays a vital role in a person's grooming and personality. Those who travel regularly are more confident and well-spoken as compared to those who do not travel. They meet different people from all over the world and learn about their culture and traditions. For instance, each country has its own cultural values; learning about them helps individuals to connect globally.
In conclusion, while reducing flights might be beneficial for the environment, that will be a significant disadvantage for individuals and businesses. It helps to promote businesses globally and individuals can learn different cultures that show in their personalities. That is why I believe that the advantages individuals and businesses face due to fewer flights outweigh its environmental benefits.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the disadvantages for individuals and businesses outweigh the environmental benefits. The ideas are relevant, such as the economic impact of international trade and the personal growth associated with travel. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding 'grooming and personality' is a bit vague and could have been more deeply linked to professional development or global networking to strengthen the argument. While the position is consistent, the supporting examples are somewhat generic, which limits the depth of the analysis required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader through the argument. However, the progression of ideas within paragraphs is occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition between the environmental impact and the economic benefits in the first body paragraph is a bit abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate and allows for clear communication. You use some appropriate terms like 'fuel emissions', 'expand their businesses', and 'cultural values'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'grooming', which is not the most natural fit for describing personal development in this context. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and less common lexical items related to environmental and economic topics to demonstrate a more flexible range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, such as 'Those who travel regularly are more confident and well-spoken as compared to those who do not travel.' However, there are occasional grammatical slips, such as 'that will be a significant disadvantage' (which should be 'this would be') and 'the advantages individuals and businesses face... outweigh its environmental benefits' (where 'its' lacks a clear singular antecedent). Punctuation is generally correct, but the control over complex structures is not yet consistent enough to warrant a higher score.
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.