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)

Nowadays, some individuals have chosen to reduce the number times they travel by air each year while others stopped flying altogether. Although there are some drawbacks of it for individuals and businesses, However I think advantages are far more significant.

One of the primary advantages of reduce travelling by air is positive impact on environment. The aircraft produce large amount of carbon and greenhouse gases which create pollution and climate change problems. If fewer people fly, the demand of air travel will decrease which eventually reduce aviation-related emissions. For instance people can use alternatives such as buses and trains, it will minimize the environmental damage cause by air travel. In addition, businesses can arrange online meetings for the employees living far away, which can save the large amount of fuel.

On the other hand if people stop travelling by air, both individuals and aircraft businesses will suffer. Travelling by air is often more convenient and flexible especially for people who needs to reach somewhere urgently. It saves extra time and effort it take to travel by other modes of transport. People who needs to travel to another country, avoiding flights will make their travel more expensive. Furthermore, if more people will use other alternatives to air travelling, aircraft organizations will suffer from low revenues, as its their main source of earning. It may result in loss of jobs of people who work in those companies associated with travelling agencies.

Nevertheless, I believe that these disadvantages are outweighed by the long-term environmental benefits. While air travel provides convenience and supports international business and tourism, its environmental consequences affect society as a whole and can persist for generations. Moreover, technological developments such as high-speed rail and online communication are increasingly providing practical alternatives to flying.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the mention of online meetings as a substitute for business travel and the economic impact on aviation. However, the development of the 'disadvantages' section could be slightly more nuanced to reach a higher band. The essay maintains a consistent position throughout, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments presented. To improve, ensure that the link between the environmental benefits and the specific 'individuals and businesses' mentioned in the prompt is explicitly reinforced in each body paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages and disadvantages. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Nevertheless' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are some minor issues with flow; for example, the opening sentence contains a redundant 'However' after an 'Although' clause, which disrupts the cohesion. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the transition between the environmental impact and the business alternatives could be smoother to achieve a more sophisticated level of cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'aviation-related emissions', 'greenhouse gases', and 'technological developments'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'reduce travelling' (should be 'reducing travel') and 'the demand of air travel' (should be 'demand for'). The range is adequate for the task, but to reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise and varied collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing like 'travelling by air' and 'air travel' in close proximity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For instance, subject-verb agreement issues occur, such as 'The aircraft produce' (should be 'produce' or 'aircraft produce' as a plural, but 'an aircraft produces' or 'aircraft produce' is better) and 'people who needs' (should be 'people who need'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors, such as 'the large amount of fuel' (should be 'a large amount'). These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the essay from reaching the 8.0 band.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.