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)
People are divided into different opinion regarding a , a growing number of people have chosen to fly less frequently or avoid air travel completely due to environmental concerns. I believe that the environmental benefits of this trend significantly outweigh its drawbacks for individuals and businesses.
One the one hand, the primary advantage of reducing air travel is its positive impact on the environment. Aviation is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions and climate change. Aeroplanes burn massive amounts of fossil fuels, releasing greenhouse gases that lead to global warming. By flying less, people can directly reduce their carbon footprint. For example, one long-haul flight can produce more CO2 than an average person emits in a whole year through other activities.therefore, this advantage of reducing air travel in the country.
On the other hand , there are some significant disadvantages to flying less. For individuals it limits their freedom to explore the world and meet family living abroad and for businesses, it can cause problems because face-to-face meetings are often more effective for building trust and closing deals than online meetings. International trade and tourism industries, which depend heavily on air transport, might also suffer financial losses. Hence, its disadvantages of air travel.
In conclusion, although reducing flights creates some inconvenience for people and companies, the environmental advantages, such as lower emissions and a cleaner atmosphere, are far more significant.the main disadvantages is that they might also suffer financial.
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 response addresses both sides of the argument and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement (241 words), which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the main points regarding environmental benefits and economic/personal disadvantages are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped. The conclusion is repetitive and fails to synthesize the arguments effectively, ending with a fragmented sentence. To improve, you should expand on your examples and ensure that each paragraph provides a more thorough analysis to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a deeper engagement with the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal shifts in the argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, such as the sentence 'therefore, this advantage of reducing air travel in the country' which lacks a clear connection to the preceding point. Additionally, the final sentence of the conclusion is disjointed and lacks proper transition. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words will help the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'carbon emissions', 'greenhouse gases', and 'global warming'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'People are divided into different opinion regarding a' (which is incomplete) and 'Hence, its disadvantages of air travel' (which is grammatically unclear). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive sentence structures. Expanding your range of synonyms will also enhance the sophistication of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar, such as missing capital letters at the start of sentences ('therefore', 'the main disadvantages'), missing articles, and incomplete sentence fragments. For example, 'People are divided into different opinion' should be 'different opinions'. These errors do not generally impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and consistent capitalization to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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