Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-04

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 6.5)

It is irrefutable that in recent years, growing environmental concerns encouraged individuals to limit their air travel or stop fly completely. while there is a benefit to this, I believe that drawbacks are more significant.

the main advantage of this development is that it helps to reduce the carbon emissions. because airplanes burns large amount of fossil fuels and release green house gases which are very detrimental for human health. for example, if people choose trains instead of airplanes for short domestic journeys, fewer flights are needed and less fuel is consumed. as a result, If fewer people fly, the overall demand for air travel decreases, reducing emissions.

This can help slow global warming and climate change.

On the other hand, one of the major drawback to this is that it may be less convenient and involve more travel time because air travel is often the fastest way to travel long distances and people may have fewer opportunities to visit family members, experience different cultures or go on international holidays. To illustrate, a person living abroad may find it difficult to visit their family regularly if they stop flying. Therefore, avoiding flights may make journeys longer, less convenient and this could affect people's personal and social lives.

in addition to this, people may face difficulties with international business because Some businesses depend on face-to-face meetings with international clients and partners. To cite an example, an Indian company negotiating a major contract with a European partner may benefit from meeting in person rather than communicating entirely online. consequently, reducing business flights could make communication and relationship-building more difficult.

In conclusion, the disadvantages are of greater importance than advantages. despite the fact that limiting flights may put positive impact on climate whereas, others factors such inconvenient for businesses and put adverse impact on social bonds can not be neglected.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, presenting a clear position that the disadvantages outweigh the environmental benefits. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of domestic train travel and international business negotiations. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat basic. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on the implications of your arguments rather than just stating them. For instance, you could discuss the economic impact of reduced tourism or the long-term societal shifts required to make such a change feasible. The conclusion is present but slightly repetitive in its phrasing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with each focusing on a specific aspect of the argument. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'To illustrate', and 'In addition to this' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and there are minor issues with punctuation and capitalization (e.g., starting sentences with lowercase letters). The flow between sentences is generally smooth, but the overall structure could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly rather than relying on standard signposting.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'irrefutable', 'detrimental', and 'negotiating'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'stop fly completely' (should be 'stop flying') and 'put positive impact' (should be 'have a positive impact'). The vocabulary is functional and allows you to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—and avoid repeating simple verbs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, such as subject-verb agreement ('airplanes burns') and missing articles ('the main advantage'). Additionally, there are several instances of capitalization errors at the start of sentences. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, specifically verb forms and sentence-level punctuation, and try to incorporate more varied complex structures with greater precision.

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

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