Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02

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 7.5)

In an era of growing climate awareness, many people are choosing to fly less or stop altogether, aiming to reduce environmental harm. While this brings challenges for individuals and businesses ,it environmental benefits ultimately outweigh the drawbacks.

Aviation is widely recognized as a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, with its impact growing as air travel becomes more popular. Each flight releases large amounts of greenhouse gases, which accelerate climate change. By cutting down on flying, people directly reduce their own contribution to this problem. For instance, long-distance flights, even with a single passenger, generate far more emissions than other transport options. Choosing trains for shorter trips or online meetings instead of in-person ones can make a real difference in lowering one's environmental footprint. Such choices support global efforts to tackle climate change, which requires reducing high-carbon activities.

Critics say less flying limits personal mobility and hurts businesses, especially those needing international links. Professionals might miss face-to-face meetings, and tourism industries could lose income. But alternatives are improving: high-speed trains in many regions offer good substitutes for short flights, and digital tools make virtual teamwork easier. More importantly, the costs of ignoring climate change - including extreme weather disasters, crop failures, and collapsed ecosystems - dwarf the short-term economic and logistical costs of adjusting to less flying.

In the end, reducing flights is more than a lifestyle tweak - it's a vital step in confronting our planet's most pressing threat. Short-term inconveniences for individuals and businesses pale beside the urgency of securing a sustainable future. Choosing the environment over ease isn't just a duty; it's an act of hope. It trades momentary convenience for the enduring promise of a world where life thrives, not just survives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it consistently throughout the essay. The arguments regarding environmental benefits are well-developed, and you provide a balanced view by acknowledging the disadvantages for businesses and individuals before refuting them with stronger counter-arguments. The ideas are relevant and supported by logical reasoning, such as the mention of high-speed trains and digital collaboration as alternatives. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position, reinforcing the main argument with a persuasive tone. The response is well-structured and demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, starting with the environmental impact, moving to the counter-arguments, and finishing with a strong conclusion. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'For instance', 'But alternatives are improving', and 'More importantly', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, contributing to a coherent and well-structured response that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases like 'global carbon emissions', 'environmental footprint', 'face-to-face meetings', and 'sustainable future' show a solid command of topic-specific language. You use less common items with reasonable precision, such as 'dwarf the short-term economic costs' and 'lifestyle tweak'. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated, academic collocations to reach the highest band. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey your ideas clearly and effectively without any significant errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like logic and participial phrases. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally strong. There is a minor grammatical slip in the introduction: 'it environmental benefits' should be 'its environmental benefits'. However, this is a rare, non-systematic error that does not impede communication. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex structures to maintain a formal tone. The majority of your sentences are accurate, demonstrating a high level of grammatical control throughout the response.

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