Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-22

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)

While reducing air travel can provide environmental benefits, I believe these advantages are outweighed by the disadvantages for individuals and businesses, particularly because of its impact on education, international business and tourism-dependent economies.|

One major environmental benefit of reducing air travel is that it can lower carbon emissions. Airplanes consume large amounts of fuel and contribute to greenhouse-gas emissions, so fewer flights could help reduce the environmental impact of transportation. For example, if fewer people travelled by air for short-distance journeys, some of these trips could be replaced by trains or other forms of public transport. As a result, reducing unnecessary flights could contribute to environmental protection.

However, I believe these environmental benefits are outweighed by the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. Students may depend on international flights to study abroad and attend universities in other countries. Businesses also rely on air travel to attend international meetings, establish partnerships and trade with overseas markets. Furthermore, many countries depend heavily on international tourism for employment and economic growth. A significant reduction in air travel could therefore reduce the number of visitors and negatively affect hotels, restaurants, transport companies and local businesses. For example, countries whose economies depend heavily on foreign tourists could lose substantial income if international visitors were discouraged from travelling by air. Therefore, although reducing unnecessary flights can benefit the environment, completely stopping or substantially reducing air travel could have serious economic and social consequences.

In conclusion, reducing air travel can help protect the environment by lowering carbon emissions. However, I believe these benefits do not outweigh the disadvantages because air travel remains important for international education, business and tourism.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have clearly addressed all parts of the prompt, maintaining a consistent position throughout the essay. Your argument is well-structured, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that explore both sides, and a conclusion. You successfully balanced the environmental benefits against the socio-economic disadvantages. To reach a higher band, you could further develop your ideas by providing more specific, real-world examples rather than general statements. For instance, mentioning a specific industry or a particular region that relies on tourism would strengthen the depth of your analysis and demonstrate a more sophisticated engagement with the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression of ideas from the environmental benefits to the economic and social drawbacks. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Furthermore,' 'For example,' and 'Therefore,' which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is always clear. To improve, ensure that the transition between the environmental argument and the economic counter-argument is even more seamless to enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'tourism-dependent economies,' 'greenhouse-gas emissions,' and 'economic and social consequences' are used accurately. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic context and conveys your meaning clearly. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more 'less common' lexical items or idiomatic collocations. For example, instead of 'large amounts of fuel,' you could use 'substantial quantities of aviation fuel,' and instead of 'discouraged from travelling,' you might use 'deterred from air travel.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you demonstrate a good control of complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your use of punctuation is correct throughout the text. You successfully use conditional structures and complex noun phrases to convey your points. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To achieve a higher score, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as inversion or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate even greater flexibility in your writing.

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