Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Some individuals have chosen to reduce the number of flights they take every year or completely stop travelling in order to reduce pollution caused by airplanes and contribute towards sustainability. Although reducing air travel impacts the companies and individuals, I believe that the benefits of this movement outweigh these disadvantages.

Aircraft are one of the major sources of air and noise pollution. The smoke produced by these vehicles release carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which traps heat and warms our planet. For example, In winter season, when fog gets mixed with the smoke produced by the airplanes creates smog which is the major problem in the subcontinent countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh these days. The smog affects the lungs of the people which leads to long term respiratory diseases. Airplanes consume large amounts of fuel and produce noise in areas near airports which affect the communities and wildlife in the surroundings. Reduced air traffic will result in the reduction of these aviation-related issues. Lower fuel consumption will consequently result in fewer carbon emissions each year and a substantial amount of energy will be conserved.

However, reducing air travel will have consequences for the businesses and the people who frequently travel internationally and domestically. Airlines may reduce the number of flights they operate due to the declining number of passengers. This would create problems for the frequent travellers, companies who operate at several locations, and tourism companies. Nevertheless, some of these difficulties can be mitigated through alternative forms of transport and digital communication. For example, video conferencing can replace some business trips, while rail services can provide an alternative to domestic flights.

In conclusion, although the reduced air travel will have negative consequences on certain sectors, the movement will encourage airlines to adopt greener technologies and become more sustainable in future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and logically developed. You provide specific examples, such as the impact of smog in South Asian countries and the use of video conferencing as an alternative to business travel. To reach a higher band, ensure that the discussion of the 'disadvantages' is as equally developed as the 'benefits'. While you mention the impact on businesses and frequent travelers, this section could be expanded with more depth to fully balance the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'However', 'Nevertheless', and 'For example' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. To improve further, try to vary the cohesive devices used, as some transitions are quite standard, and ensure that referencing remains precise throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'mitigated through alternative forms', 'carbon emissions', and 'adopt greener technologies' are well-chosen and appropriate for an academic context. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common idiomatic expressions related to environmental policy or economic impact to show greater flexibility and control over your lexical choices.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'In winter season, when fog gets mixed with the smoke produced by the airplanes creates smog', where the sentence structure is slightly awkward and lacks a clear subject for the main verb. Additionally, 'subcontinent countries' is slightly imprecise. Focusing on refining complex sentence construction and ensuring subject-verb agreement in longer, multi-clause sentences will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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