Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25
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 5.5)
In recent years, some people have decided that they will reduce the number of times they fly each year or stop flying together. Although decreasing the number of flying leads to less environmental pollution, I believe that the benefits of this development do not outweigh the drawbacks for individuals and business because this is not the only reason that is damaging the environment.
The main advantages of using flights is that commuting become much easier and convenient for people than before. As a result, people can easily travel over long distance either for business or for personal works. Another advantage is that, using flights save a lot of time. In the past, there were no alternatives of trains and buses specially for long journeys hence people have to rely on them which requires a lot of time. Moreover, it was inconvenient for many people specially for older ones. This is to say it has reduced the time and make travelling easier. For example, people can go to cox's bazar within three to four hours using flight which usually take almost ten hours if we go by bus. However, using flights can affect the environment negatively.
The main disadvantage of this development is air pollution. Vehicles are responsible to produce greenhouse gas which traps sunlight resulting in global warming. If the number of flights increase in the following year it will certainly affect the environment significantly. For instance, according to an article vehicles are responsible for 10% of air pollution. However, reducing the number of flights are not the only solution for this problem.
In conclusion, although reduce the number of fly every year can be beneficial for the environment but I this the disadvantages are much more significant as they will affect the businesses as well as peoples.
Therefore, I believe that the benefits of this development do not overweigh its drawbacks.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the benefits of air travel (convenience and time-saving) and the environmental drawbacks, the argument lacks depth. For instance, the discussion on how businesses are affected is mentioned in the conclusion but not explored in the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with specific reasoning or examples. The conclusion also contradicts the body paragraphs slightly by stating the disadvantages are more significant, whereas the body paragraphs focus heavily on the benefits of flying.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In recent years', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion'. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'This is to say it has reduced the time and make travelling easier'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between the environmental impact and the business impact could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages and disadvantages, which helps the reader follow your argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'greenhouse gas', 'global warming', and 'environmental pollution'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of word-choice errors or awkward phrasing, such as 'stop flying together' (should be 'altogether') and 'no alternatives of trains' (should be 'no alternative to trains'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the fluency of the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the number of flights increase', 'reducing the number of flights are'), tense inconsistencies ('people have to rely on them' when discussing the past), and article usage errors. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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