Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-27

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 7.0)

It is believed by some that reducing the number of flights taken in a year or putting a stop to flying altogether is significantly beneficial for the environment. Although, undoubtedly, this is a positive development for the natural environment, I believe this advantage is considerably outweighed by the negative impact on businesses and the workforce employed in the industry.

This trend certainly has a positive effect on the environment. With fewer people opting to not take flights or reducing the number of times they fly, the aviation industry would witness a decline in demand for its services. Consequently, the number of airplanes required along with the number of trips undertaken to fly people would decrease. Furthermore, for some people choosing not to fly by air, there is a higher possibility that they would be utilising public transport to travel. For instance, for long-distance travel that some people earlier took by flights, railways would be a more convenient option than cars due to the hours involved. Therefore, those individuals would be further contributing to the cause of environment protection.

However, I believe the advantages mentioned above would be overpowered by the following concerns. A lack of demand in the industry would result in the airline companies suffering losses, which would be harmful for the economy. Owing to lesser demand, operations would be shut down by these companies, workers including pilots, airhostesses and ground support staff amongst others, will be laid off as the businesses would not have capital to sustain long-time operations or pay their staff. Additionally, allied businesses that rely on air transport would also suffer a setback. For instance, transnational online businesses and courier services which depend on flights for transporting their goods would have to find alternative and more expensive ways of transportation. Furthermore, I believe that few people opting out of air travel would not be a contribution substantive enough to the cause of environment protection as greater causes such as urbanisation and industrialisation resulting in significant pollution and deforestation would still remain unaddressed.

In conclusion, while deciding to reduce or eliminate air travel is a noble sentiment, I believe the harmful impact on the business and the individuals relying on such businesses would outweigh the relatively limited positive impact on the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout that the negative impact on businesses outweighs the environmental benefits. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the discussion on the economic consequences for the aviation industry and the broader impact on global supply chains. The argument is logical and supported by relevant examples, such as the mention of courier services and the comparison with other environmental stressors like industrialisation. The position is consistent from the introduction to the conclusion, demonstrating a strong grasp of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the environmental benefits and the economic disadvantages is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Consequently', 'Furthermore', and 'Owing to' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the argument. While the flow is generally natural, the use of some cohesive devices is slightly mechanical, but this does not impede the overall readability or the logical structure of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and generally precise, allowing for a clear expression of ideas. The student uses topic-specific terminology such as 'aviation industry', 'transnational online businesses', and 'industrialisation' appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common items, and the collocation is mostly accurate. While there are no major errors in word choice, the range could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band. The language used is natural and fits the formal tone required for an academic essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'Although, undoubtedly, this is a positive development...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control of grammar and punctuation is strong. There are very occasional minor slips, such as the slightly awkward phrasing in 'With fewer people opting to not take flights', but these do not interfere with communication. The sentence structures are varied, showing a good command of English grammar.

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