Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Nowadays, many individuals have convicted to minimize the travelling through airplane yearly or completely restrict their travel through flying. I strongly disagree with the notion although the businesses will suffer globally however, the advantages will surely outweigh the disadvantages because of the positive outcomes of reduced air pollution and environmental hazards.

One compelling argument is that minimizing the usage of airspaces for travelling will contribute positively on society, because of reduction in green house gas emission. Aircrafts consume large quantity of fossil fuels, which contributes substantially to global warming and air pollution. If fewer people will travel by plane, the overall demand for flights will decline, potentially reducing carbon emissions from the aviation industry. Moreover, this change could encourage people to use more sustainable modes of transport, such as busses and trains, particularly for short journeys. For instance, travelling by trains between major cities often produce considerably fewer emissions than taking a flight.

However, reducing air travel can have negative consequences for individuals. Flying allows people to visit their families, explore different countries and experience different cultures. If people stop flying completely, international travel could become less accessible. Businesses could also be affected because many companies depend on international flights. Nevertheless, these disadvantages can be mitigated by technological changes, businesses can increasingly rely on video conferences for meetings, while individuals can choose to fly less frequently. Furthermore the environmental consequences of climate change, such as extreme weather, rising sea levels and damage to ecosystem can be reduced by limiting the use of airspaces.

To conclude, although reducing air travel may limit personal freedom and create challenges for businesses, I believe the environmental benefits are considerably greater. A moderate reduction in flying combined with the use of alternative forms of transport and digital communication, could help create a more sustainable future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout. You have identified both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses, providing a balanced view before concluding that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the discussion on fossil fuel consumption and the role of video conferencing as a mitigation strategy. To reach a higher band, ensure that the development of the 'disadvantages' section is as detailed as the 'benefits' section, as the current exploration of business impacts is slightly brief compared to the environmental arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'For instance', 'However', and 'Nevertheless' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, focus on varying the placement of cohesive devices and ensuring that the logical progression between sentences is seamless rather than relying on standard linking words at the start of every sentence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision, using terms like 'mitigated', 'sustainable', and 'aviation industry'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'convicted to minimize' is incorrect; 'committed to minimizing' would be more natural. Similarly, 'usage of airspaces' is not the standard way to refer to air travel. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Expanding your use of topic-specific collocations would enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for the task. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'Aircrafts consume' (aircraft is an uncountable noun in this context) and 'contribute positively on society' (the correct preposition is 'to'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation errors, such as missing commas after introductory phrases like 'Furthermore'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, and aim for more consistent control over complex sentence structures.

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