Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-26

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 are choosing to limit their travel or to stop flying altogether. I believe such actions might benefit the environment in the future, but the consequences of it may be more severe for individuals and businesses.

If people stop travelling regularly or entirely, it might be beneficial for the environment as the amount of fuel used will be reduced. This will help maintain a better atmospheric layer for the future generation and promising a better future as a whole. However, if people reduce the number of times they fly every year it may lead to problems for many people and businesses.

Firslty, if people travel less every year, then many airlines may not reach their yearly profit. To avoid loss, airlines might raise the prices of tickets to account for the reduced bookings. Because of this, many individuals that travel for work or to meet their loved ones, might face difficulty due to raised flight prices. For instance, a student travels home atleast twice every year on holidays to meet their family. If the ticket prices are beyond their spending it is disadvantage for them.

Additionally, if people travel via flights less, they may have lesser choice of airline in the future. Because, if businesses lose more customers, then they face a major loss in revenue. For example, known airlines like Brithish Airways may uplhold their business from the loss of customers. But small airlines might have to close their businesss if people stop flying altogther.

In conclusion, the disadvantages for individuals and businesses outweighs the environmental benefits. Not only are flights an easier mode to commute, it also provides convenience for individuals. It will lead to more loss for individuals if they choose to stop flying altogether.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the disadvantages outweigh the environmental benefits. The ideas are relevant, though the development is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding airlines raising prices is logical but could be further extended with more specific economic reasoning. The conclusion restates the position clearly. To reach a higher band, ensure that the environmental benefits are explored with equal depth to the economic disadvantages, as the current balance leans heavily toward the latter, making the argument feel slightly one-sided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there is occasional repetition of phrasing (e.g., 'if people travel less'). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow and coherence of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'atmospheric layer' and 'revenue'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'Firslty', 'Brithish', 'uplhold', and 'businesss', which detract from the overall quality. Additionally, some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'maintain a better atmospheric layer'. Expanding the range of collocations and ensuring accurate spelling would significantly improve this score.

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 recurring grammatical errors, such as 'promising a better future' (which lacks a subject/verb connection to the previous clause) and 'disadvantage for them' (missing an article). There are also minor punctuation and agreement issues. While the errors do not impede communication, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited, and the frequency of errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band.

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

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