Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-31
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)
Some people believe have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether. This essay will discuss whether the environmental benefits of this outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. I believe that numbers reduced could have a greater impact on the environment as a whole but could be disadvantageous for businesses in terms of time if stopped altogether.
People think that travelling by air is more of an inconvenience than of a comfort. Travelling by plane do have an advantages of saving time than other means of transport. It could be become expensive on occasions like festivals or if not booked in advance. But the cost taken, the resources and time does not feel worth the effort. Planes do consume a lot of fuel, the security checks, the extra precautions to be taken becomes more of a struggle than ease.
This initiative of not flying by air taken by people could turn concerning for the the individuals and businesses in a long run. The main factor for using these resources are that it saves time. For example, a person or company dealing with any kind of urgency tend to use these services so as to avoid delays.
Furthermore, I personally believe that these services should be availed in it's whole essence. It could have environment effects but the numbers could be reduced so as to save resources. Stopping it altogether could cause unnecessary trouble to oneself
In conclusion, People should know what is to be done, reducing the numbers could have a significant impact on the environment, whereas stopping it altogether could cause a great loss to businesses and individuals. By opting to choose any other means of transport would consume a lot more time than usual adding with the struggle to reach the destination.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, you mention that air travel is an 'inconvenience' and that it 'saves time,' but you do not provide specific, well-supported examples to illustrate these points. The position is clear, but the arguments lack depth and analytical rigor. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed reasoning or concrete examples, such as the economic impact on global trade or the specific environmental consequences of aviation, rather than relying on general statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'In conclusion,' the transitions between sentences are occasionally mechanical or unclear, such as the shift between the second and third paragraphs. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes imprecise, making it difficult to follow the logical flow of your argument. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'a lot of' and 'trouble,' which restricts your ability to express complex ideas with precision. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'availed in it's whole essence' and 'adding with the struggle.' To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and precise terminology related to environmental and economic topics. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you convey your arguments more effectively and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('Travelling by plane do have an advantages'), incorrect use of articles ('the the individuals'), and punctuation errors ('it's' instead of 'its'). While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly regarding verb forms, pluralisation, and the correct use of possessive pronouns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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