Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Many people have decided to reduce the means of travelling by airplane. While the drawbacks of this may cause financial instability in terms of businesses and reduced migration to foreign countries, I believe its benefits outweighs its demerits because it leads to reduced carbon emissions and balance in ecosystem.

On the one hand, many people have made decisions on limiting the number of times they travel by air. This is because most airplanes uses fossil fuels which can be detrimental to the ecosystem. For example, when airplanes release greenhouse gas emissions in the sky, this can cause an imbalance in the environment which can disrupt the live span of most species. If many people limit the times they fly every year or stop flying together, there would be less carbon emission from exhumes fuels. As a result, there will be less pollution in the environment.

However, there are several drawbacks to this, one of which is financial instability, especially from those who engage in export businesses. The main reason is that there won't be any means of bringing in goods from foreign countries. Consequently, this will affect their financial stability. Moreover, individuals who want to travel explore other people's culture abroad may not have the opportunity to do that, as it may be difficult to use airplanes. For example, students who dream of studying abroad may not achieve their dreams due to the decline in the use of airplanes. Therefore, this may lead to unfulfilled dreams.

In conclusion, while limiting the use of airplanes may cause financial instability and lack of migration to abroad, I believe the advantages outweigh the drawbacks because it leads to reduced carbon emissions and balance in the ecosystem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the environmental benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The ideas are relevant, such as the impact on carbon emissions and the economic consequences for businesses. However, the development is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'export businesses' is mentioned but not fully explored with specific examples or deeper analysis. The argument regarding student migration is a good attempt at supporting the disadvantage, but the connection between flying and 'unfulfilled dreams' could be more nuanced. Overall, the response is well-structured and maintains a consistent position throughout, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0, but requires more depth to reach higher bands.

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 topic, such as environmental benefits or economic drawbacks. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand,' 'However,' and 'Consequently,' which help guide the reader through the argument. While the progression is generally clear, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The use of referencing is generally accurate, though the flow between sentences could be improved to sound more natural. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the development of the argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, with some attempts at using topic-specific language like 'carbon emissions,' 'fossil fuels,' and 'financial instability.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'exhumes fuels' is incorrect (likely meant 'exhaust fumes'), and 'live span' should be 'lifespan.' The phrase 'migration to abroad' is also non-standard. While the range is adequate for the task, the lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary prevents a higher score. The errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more precise lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('most airplanes uses' instead of 'use') and awkward phrasing ('stop flying together' instead of 'altogether'). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are slightly clunky. While the writer attempts complex structures, the frequency of errors is noticeable. The majority of sentences are understandable, but the control over grammar is not consistent enough for a higher band. Improving the accuracy of verb forms and prepositions would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.

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

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