Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Numerous individuals reduced how often they fly per annum or stopped traveling by plane completely. I think that the main disadvantages for private and professional causes outweigh the benefits because commuting by different means of transport is slower and people cannot experience cultures far away.

On the one hand, the main advantages are the reduction of cost per route and carbon emissions. Firstly, when people fly fewer, they reduce the money they have to allocate per holiday and therefore have more budget to spend at the location. Secondly, aerial transportation is one of the major carbon emitters. When individuals reduce how often they travel by plane, they also minimize their own carbon footprint. Carbon emissions are a major contributor to global warming. That is why, if we were to reduce our emissions, we could defend humankind from further climate change. But in my opinion, reducing flights only is not too impactful, because for instance industry or cars have an even greater impact.

On the other hand, both in a private and professional context, the time to travel to a destination would increase dramatically and visiting a nation far away becomes more difficult. Flying is the fastest means of transport we have developed as a civilization for commercial use. Reducing how often we take planes, would inflate the average time one needs to travel, thus, being an expense for business people, since time equals money to them. Adding to that, it would not be possible to experience diverse and foreign cultures on other continents. This would reduce the interconnectedness and appreciation between the nations and their inhabitants around the globe, which might conclude to an alienation of the previously globalized world. For instance, it is impossible to visit every region in South America even with a plane. Hence, many Europeans are uncostumed to the local traditions and festivals there.

In conclusion, while it is possible to reduce the cost of travelling and the overall damage to the environment caused by flying, I think the disadvantages are more severe. Building new hurdles to visit other cultures and needing more time to travel are undeniable problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. Your arguments regarding time efficiency and cultural exchange are relevant and well-supported. However, the development of the environmental benefits could be more nuanced; while you mention carbon emissions, the argument that flying is 'not too impactful' compared to industry is a bit dismissive and could be better balanced. To reach a higher band, ensure that your counter-arguments are fully integrated into your overall position rather than appearing as a separate, slightly contradictory point. The ideas are generally well-extended, though some points, such as the specific example of South American travel, could be more tightly linked to the main argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand,' 'Firstly,' 'Secondly,' and 'In conclusion,' which guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. However, there are minor issues with flow; for instance, the transition between the environmental impact and the personal disadvantages could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly mechanical. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the structure supports the development of your argument well throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision, using terms like 'carbon footprint,' 'interconnectedness,' and 'globalized world.' There are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'uncostumed to' (instead of 'unaccustomed to') and 'conclude to an alienation' (instead of 'lead to'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, these minor errors in collocation and word choice prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on learning the specific collocations associated with formal academic writing and ensure you are using words in their correct context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional sentences ('if we were to reduce...') and relative clauses. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'when people fly fewer' (should be 'less'), 'reducing how often we take planes, would inflate' (unnecessary comma), and 'uncostumed' (incorrect word form). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To move to a higher band, aim for more consistent control over complex structures and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and punctuation, particularly the use of commas in complex sentences.

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

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