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)

In recent times, it has been observed that environmental pollution has become a major challenge. As a result, it has influenced people to reduce the number of flights throughout the year or even stop. For certain scenarios, I believe that there are benefits to this which outweigh the drawbacks to individuals and enterprises. Considering the fact that if this happens, there could be benefits such as air pollution reduction, on the contrary, there are also disadvantages which cannot be ignored like business trips would be hindered.

To begin with, when individuals decide to minimize air travel, it would be essential to minimize environmental degradation. To illustrate this, I decided to stop travelling by air in domestic zones. Consequently, lessening air voyages contributes more to environmental sustainability. Therefore, there are various benefits of deducing or stopping flights intakes per year.

Another perspective that cannot be denied is the drawbacks of reducing flights by businesses or individual persons, which may affect business or social interaction between families who live abroad. For example, when my cousin decided to minimize his flight times per year it has impacted the time he would spend with his family. As a result, it can be impactful to society as well as business when deciding to reduce the number of flights and periods per year. Hence, it is undeniable to consider that lessening flying by air can affect businesses and people.

In conclusion, even though there are certain drawbacks to minimizing the number of flights taken per year, it is beneficial to consider the benefits also which help in environmental protection and sustainability.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the drawbacks for individuals and businesses. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. While you state your position that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, the supporting arguments lack depth. For instance, the mention of 'business trips would be hindered' is a good starting point, but it is not expanded upon with specific examples or logical consequences. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main idea is fully explored with detailed explanations and concrete examples that directly relate to the prompt's focus on both individuals and businesses.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'Consequently,' and 'In conclusion' to link your thoughts. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'as a result' and 'therefore.' Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear; for example, in the third paragraph, the phrase 'it can be impactful' is vague. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer to their antecedents will help improve the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'environmental degradation,' 'sustainability,' and 'hindered.' However, there are some instances of awkward word choice and collocation, such as 'flights intakes' and 'lessening air voyages,' which sound unnatural. While your meaning is generally clear, the vocabulary is somewhat limited in its sophistication. To improve, focus on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—and try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas more fluently and accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'it is undeniable to consider that lessening flying by air can affect...' and 'it has impacted the time he would spend.' These errors do not generally impede communication, but they do indicate a lack of consistent control over complex structures. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Increasing your use of error-free complex sentences will help you achieve a higher band score.

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

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