Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-21
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 5.0)
Nowadays, some people choose to reduce the number of times they travel by air each year, while other stop flying completely. They believe this can help protect the environment. i think the environmental benefits are greater than the disadvantages for individuals and businesses.
On the one hand, flying less has many benefits to the environment . Airplanes produce a large amount of carbon dioxide, which contributed to climate change. if more people reduce unnecessary flights, air pollution can decrease. for example, many people now attend online meetings instead of flying for short business trips . This helps lower greenhouse gas emission and supports a cleaner environment .
in conclusion, although reducing air travel may cause some inconvenience for effects on the environment are more important. choosing to fly only when necessary is a practical way to reduce pollution and protect the planet for future
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 144 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the prompt asks for an evaluation of both environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses, the student only briefly touches upon the environmental aspect and completely ignores the impact on businesses. The position is clear, but the lack of development and the failure to address all parts of the prompt result in a low score for this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, which is a basic structure. There is some attempt at logical progression using transition signals like 'On the one hand' and 'in conclusion'. However, the lack of depth and the brevity of the response make the overall flow feel disjointed. Cohesive devices are used in a somewhat mechanical way, and the final sentence is incomplete, which disrupts the coherence of the conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. The student uses common phrases like 'protect the environment' and 'reduce pollution'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. Some errors in word choice, such as 'for effects on the environment', indicate a limited control over vocabulary, which restricts the ability to convey complex ideas effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent errors in punctuation and capitalization, such as 'i think' and 'for example' starting with lowercase letters. There are also grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'other stop flying' (should be 'others') and 'which contributed to' (should be 'contributes to'). The final sentence is grammatically incomplete, which significantly affects the clarity of the argument.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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