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 today's changing world, certain individuals take decision to decline their amount of flights they take every year. Indeed, it assist in cleaning our environment this is a benefit but it will also cause the business loss which effect owner financial state. In my perspective, the advantages don't outweigh the disadvantages.

On one side, by cutting off flights it will reduce noise pollution because planes are become reason of a lot of noise pollution. It also disturb wildlife, for example birds like eagles or falcons find difficult to navigate near airports. In addition, it also cause a lot of carbon emission which effect our environment. Furthermore, if conferences are done by online meeting instead of traveling to another country it will save both time and money.

On the other side, critics says, if we have a look on drawbacks, by preventing travel through airplanes it is the main factor of loss in business of other people For instance, a person is earning for her family and meet their high standers but it work goes in loss. By this professionals loss their chance to meet face to face and how to deal in person. Also if we use alternatives, like trains or buses those cause a lot of air pollution.

To reiterat, although , drawbacks outweigh advantages. So in opinion, it is essential to maintain a balance between both. And also, should implement some regulation to maintain balanced relationship. Therefore, I am convinced , that advantages are vital as compared to drawbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both environmental benefits and the disadvantages for businesses. However, the position is inconsistent. In the introduction, you state that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, but in the conclusion, you contradict this by stating that the advantages are 'vital as compared to drawbacks.' This lack of a clear, sustained position throughout the essay limits the score. While you provide some relevant ideas, such as noise pollution and business losses, the development is somewhat superficial. To improve, ensure your stance is clearly defined in the introduction and consistently supported throughout the body paragraphs without contradicting yourself in the final summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'On one side,' 'On the other side,' and 'Furthermore,' which provide a basic framework. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression is hindered by the contradictory conclusion. Some transitions are used incorrectly, such as 'To reiterat, although , drawbacks outweigh advantages,' which lacks a clear connection to the preceding arguments. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words more naturally and ensure that each paragraph builds logically upon the previous one to support your central argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'take decision' (should be 'make a decision') and 'business loss' (should be 'financial losses'). There are also issues with word choice, such as 'high standers' (standards) and 'it work goes in loss.' While the meaning is usually clear, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and the presence of errors in collocation prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific collocations related to the environment and economics, and pay closer attention to word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'planes are become reason of a lot of noise pollution' (should be 'planes are a source of noise pollution') and 'critics says' (should be 'critics say'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas and spacing issues. While you attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and proofreading for basic sentence construction errors. Mastering these will significantly improve the clarity and professional tone of your writing.

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

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