Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In recent years, growing environmental concerns have encouraged people to reduce their use of air travel. Although this development may create some difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe its environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

The most significant benefit of reducing air travel is its positive impact on the environment. Aircraft produce large amounts of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. If fewer people fly, aviation emissions could be reduced. For example, in the United Kingdom, people travelling between London and Manchester can use trains instead of short flights. This can reduce dependence on air travel and encourage more sustainable transportation.

Despite these benefits, reducing flights can cause inconvenience for individuals. Airplanes are often the fastest and most practical way to travel long distances, particularly between countries. For instance, a person travelling from Ahmedabad to London would find it difficult to use alternative transport because the journey would take much longer. Furthermore, avoiding flights could limit people's opportunities to visit relatives, travel abroad and attend important events.

A further disadvantage is that businesses may face difficulties when international flights are reduced. Companies often need employees to travel for meetings, conferences and negotiations with overseas clients. For example, a business in Mumbai that works with partners in Dubai or Singapore may require employees to travel for important face-to-face meetings. However, video conferencing can replace many routine business trips, reducing the need for frequent flights.

In conclusion, reducing air travel may cause inconvenience for individuals and businesses. Nevertheless, I believe the environmental benefits outweigh these disadvantages, because fewer flights can reduce emissions and encourage more sustainable travel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The environmental benefits are well-supported with the example of train travel in the UK. The disadvantages for individuals and businesses are also addressed with relevant examples, such as the difficulty of long-distance travel and the necessity of business meetings. The ideas are extended and supported, though the discussion could be slightly more nuanced to reach the highest bands. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and reaffirms the writer's stance, ensuring the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the benefits and the disadvantages is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Despite these benefits', 'Furthermore', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each side of the argument, and a conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and the reader can easily follow the writer's line of reasoning throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The writer uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'greenhouse gases', 'global warming', 'aviation emissions', and 'sustainable transportation'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, and the word choice is generally precise. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks the sophisticated, idiomatic, or highly precise collocations that would characterize a higher band score. However, there are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If fewer people fly, aviation emissions could be reduced') and concessive clauses ('Although this development may create...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control of grammar and punctuation is strong. There are no major grammatical errors that hinder understanding. The writer shows a good grasp of sentence construction, effectively balancing simple and complex forms to convey their arguments clearly. The accuracy is consistent throughout the response.

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

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