Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Certain individuals have made up their mind to reduce the number of times they travel or rather stop traveling altogether. I believe the advantages of this trend far outweigh the drawbacks for individuals and businesses.

On the one hand, one of the main disadvantages if traveling will become obsolete is that it leads to negative impact on tourism-related industries. Airlines, hotels, restaurants and travel agencies may lose their customers because majority of them are from different countries. This could lead to reduced profits and job losses. For instance, if this development can be implemented, the national economy will declined and many people especially those in the low-middle income groups can suffer from poverty because of limited jobs.

On the other hand, limiting the number of trips or flights can make healthier environment. According to some studies, the amount of emissions coming from airplanes are higher or equivalent to many private land vehicles. Air travel produces significant green-gas emissions. Furthermore, fewer flights mean lower consumption and fuel released. For example, If people choose trains for shorter domestic journeys instead of flying, fewer aircraft trips are required, reducing emissions. In addition, aircrafts reduces air pollution. Reducing unnecessary flights can lead to cleaner air and environmental sustainability which leads to greater quality of life.

In conclusion, reducing the number of flights can greatly affect the tourism industry which leads to job loss and low profits. However, I believe the benefits outweigh the disadvantages because limiting or stopping the flights can reduce carbon emissions and air pollution having a cleaner environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and logically structured. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention the impact on the tourism industry, the explanation regarding 'low-middle income groups' and 'poverty' feels slightly disconnected from the main argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explained with more specific, logical links to the core argument. Your position remains consistent throughout the essay, which is a strength.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' to signal the progression of your argument. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated. For instance, the transition between the environmental impact of emissions and the suggestion to use trains is a bit abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'obsolete,' 'emissions,' and 'environmental sustainability.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'fuel released' (instead of 'fuel consumption') and 'national economy will declined' (should be 'will decline'). The vocabulary is generally sufficient to convey your meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more academic, topic-specific vocabulary to express your ideas with greater nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'if traveling will become obsolete' should be 'if travel becomes obsolete,' and 'aircrafts reduces' should be 'aircraft reduce' (as aircraft is often used as a plural noun). Additionally, there are issues with verb tense consistency, such as 'the national economy will declined.' While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and conditional sentence structures.

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