Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-24

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 6.0)

For those who are environmentally conscious, choosing other transportation modes or avoiding flying can be one of their efforts to protect the environment and the positive outcomes of this idea certainly outweigh the disadvantages.

Firstly, while it is important to acknowledge that airplanes are not the only leading cause to environmental damage, commuting and traveling with other modes of transport can be a massive effort for people who happen to travel a lot and still want to contribute to the environmental causes. If a dozen of travelers opting to other options every day to commute, it would still reduce level of air omission significantly.

Secondly, a small step for one individual means tremendously to achieve a collective and larger goal. It is in all of our favor as well as our responsibility to help and take care of our environment. Traveling without airplanes may not be as convenient and practical, however, there are many other alternatives that can still get us to our destination while also stopping us from causing more damage to our one and only home, such as by train, bus, even ship or car. Our personal comfort while traveling should not matter more than our responsibility to acknowledge the ever-growing environmental concerns.

Lastly, in the subject of businesses, aviation corporations will not stop gaining profit from reduced number of flying travelers. Avoiding flying altogether cannot be applied for every one as there are still certain places that can only be reached by planes. Therefore, the disadvantages for businesses do not outweigh the advantages for people who are willing and able to travel without airplanes.

To conclude this essay, while it is not for every individual, the decision of avoiding flying still holds more benefits than disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. However, the development is somewhat superficial. While you state that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, the arguments regarding businesses are underdeveloped and lack specific examples or depth. For instance, the claim that aviation corporations will not stop gaining profit is asserted without evidence or logical expansion. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with concrete examples or logical reasoning that directly addresses the 'why' and 'how' of the impact on both individuals and businesses.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Lastly', and 'To conclude' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition in the second paragraph regarding 'a dozen of travelers' is slightly awkward. Additionally, some referencing is imprecise, such as the vague use of 'this idea' in the introduction. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents would enhance the logical progression of your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'environmentally conscious', 'aviation corporations', and 'collective'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'air omission' (likely meaning 'emissions') and 'in all of our favor' (should be 'in our favor'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more precise terminology related to environmental science and economics.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'If a dozen of travelers opting to other options' (incorrect verb form/tense) and 'the reduced number of flying travelers' (should be 'a reduced number'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence structure in the second paragraph is slightly fragmented. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and proofreading for subject-verb agreement will help improve your score in this criterion.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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