Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-23
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)
A number of individuals have chosen to decrease the frequency of their air travel or completely give it up. This essay will discuss whether the environmental advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages of individuals and businesses.
The advantages of cutoff the air travel or completely giving up can have advantages of reduce carbon emissions, helps in reducing climate change and air pollution. For example, Following this can increase other transport facilities can encourage people to use trains, buses and transport facilities like in previous decades the air travel was low compare to present days, so pollution and climatic changes are relatively low compare to current.
By reducing the number times they fly on every year can lead to problems for individual, companies may find difficult for international meetings or business travel, It effects on tourism, Airlines, airports and hotels may experience lower revenue. for example: It's mainly effect on tourism it may reduce cou
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 155 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the essay introduces the topic and attempts to address both sides of the argument, the points are underdeveloped and the conclusion is missing entirely. The text ends abruptly mid-sentence ('it may reduce cou'), which prevents a clear position from being maintained throughout. To improve, you must expand on your arguments with specific examples and ensure the essay is complete, including a clear introduction, body paragraphs with full explanations, and a concluding summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Cohesive devices are used in a very basic and sometimes mechanical way, such as 'For example' and 'By reducing'. There are issues with sentence structure that affect the flow, and the lack of a conclusion means the essay lacks a logical finish. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence followed by supporting details.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'have advantages of' and 'can have advantages of' show a lack of lexical variety. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'cutoff the air travel' instead of 'cutting down on air travel'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You should aim to use more academic collocations and synonyms to express your ideas more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'Following this can increase other transport facilities can encourage people', which is a run-on sentence with faulty structure, and 'It effects on tourism', where 'effects' is used incorrectly as a verb instead of 'affects'. The range of structures is limited, relying mostly on simple or poorly constructed complex sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct word forms (e.g., affect vs. effect), and ensuring that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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