Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Some people have chosen to reduce the number of flights they take each year or even stop flying completely in order to protect the environment. While this trend creates certain difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits are far greater than the disadvantages.

Air travel is one of the major sources of carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute significantly to climate change. If more people choose to fly less often, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced, leading to cleaner air and a healthier environment. In addition, fewer flights mean less noise pollution around airports and lower fuel consumption. These benefits help protect wildlife, reduce global warming, and improve the quality of life for future generations. Therefore, reducing unnecessary air travel is an effective way to support environmental sustainability.

However, limiting air travel can have some negative effects. For individuals, travelling long distances becomes more time-consuming and less convenient. People may also miss opportunities to visit family members living abroad or experience different cultures. Businesses can also be affected because international meetings, tourism, and global trade often depend on air transport. Airlines, hotels, and travel agencies may suffer financial losses if fewer people choose to fly.

Despite these drawbacks, modern technology offers practical alternatives. Online meetings and video conferencing allow companies to communicate effectively without the need for frequent business trips. Furthermore, many tourists are now choosing local destinations or travelling by train, both of which are more environmentally friendly. As transport systems continue to improve, the disadvantages of flying less are likely to become smaller.

In conclusion, although reducing air travel may cause inconvenience for some people and have a negative impact on certain industries, the environmental advantages are much more significant. Protecting the planet from climate change should be a priority, and reducing unnecessary flights is an important step towards achieving that goal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The arguments regarding environmental benefits are well-developed, and you provide a balanced view by acknowledging the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. The ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as the mention of video conferencing and local tourism as alternatives. The conclusion effectively summarises your stance. To reach a higher band, you could further elaborate on the specific 'environmental benefits' by providing a more concrete example of a specific industry or region impacted by aviation emissions, which would add more depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks is handled smoothly using the cohesive device 'However'. You use a range of linking words such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, with each section serving a distinct purpose. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between sentences is clear. The use of referencing is accurate, ensuring that the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'environmental sustainability', 'carbon dioxide emissions', and 'global trade' are used accurately. You also show an awareness of collocation, such as 'suffer financial losses' and 'practical alternatives'. While the vocabulary is appropriate and conveys your meaning clearly, it is generally standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range, such as 'mitigate', 'detrimental impact', or 'paradigm shift', which would elevate the academic tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If more people choose to fly...') and concessive clauses ('Although reducing air travel may cause...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is strong. The grammar is consistently accurate, which allows for smooth reading. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To move towards a higher band, you could experiment with more varied sentence beginnings or more advanced grammatical structures, such as inversion or participle clauses, to further demonstrate your flexibility and control over English grammar.

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