Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-29
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 contemporary society, people are debating about restricting them self from plane tour for environmental conservation. Although a good proportion of individual believe that, plane is one of the most convenient forms of transportation. However, there are both pros and cons to deciding to do. In this essay I will discuss some of reasons why reducing the number of fly is beneficial for our ecosystem and some of the challenges to be overcome.
Lets begin by looking at the advantages of reduction in by air travelling. One of the main positives are, it will help to restore already disturbed ecosystem. What I mean by this is that, by combustion and emission of CO2 gasses biodiversity suffered, specifically from daily usage of aeroplanes. For instance, these hazardous gases contribute in global warming.
Another significant advantage is that the less usage of fly will provide a good time for the reformation of the depleted ozone layer. Combustion process disturbed the stratosphere, which eventually play role in increasing the earth temperature. By reducing the frequent trips, it will give the environmental benefits.
Turning to the other side of argument, people believe that transportation by air is more convenient and accessible and will offer great benefits individually and on business trips.
All things considered,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you introduce the topic and attempt to present both sides, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly with 'All things considered,'. Consequently, the second side of the argument (disadvantages for individuals and businesses) is barely touched upon, and the conclusion is missing. To improve, you must ensure you fully develop each paragraph with specific examples and complete your essay with a coherent conclusion. The current length prevents a full exploration of the prompt, leading to an underdeveloped response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows a basic attempt at logical organization, with an introduction and separate paragraphs for the advantages. However, the abrupt ending severely disrupts the flow and coherence of the piece. You use some cohesive devices like 'Another significant advantage' and 'Turning to the other side', but the overall structure is incomplete. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that the essay follows a logical progression from introduction to body paragraphs and a final conclusion. The lack of a conclusion makes the overall arrangement feel unfinished.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'biodiversity', 'combustion', and 'stratosphere', which is positive. However, there are issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'plane tour' instead of 'air travel' and 'reducing the number of fly' instead of 'reducing the number of flights'. To improve, focus on using more natural collocations and a wider range of academic vocabulary. Avoid repetitive phrasing and ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'people are debating about restricting them self' should be 'restricting themselves', and 'a good proportion of individual believe that, plane is' contains punctuation and article errors. Additionally, 'the less usage of fly' is grammatically incorrect. You need to focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and proper sentence construction. While your meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors limits your score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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