Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-06
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)
It is irrefutable that in recent years, growing environmental concerns have encouraged individuals to limit their air travel or stop flying altogether. While there are benefits to this development, I believe that its drawbacks are more significant.
The main advantage of reducing air travel is that it helps to decrease carbon emissions. Airplanes burn large amounts of fossil fuels and release greenhouse gases, which are detrimental to human health and the environment. For example, if people choose trains instead of airplanes for short domestic journeys, fewer flights are required and less fuel is consumed. As a result, reduced air travel can lower emissions and help slow global warming and climate change.
On the other hand, one of the major drawbacks is that it may be less convenient and involve more travel time. Air travel is often the fastest way to cover 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 could make journeys longer and affect people's personal and social lives.
In addition to this, people may face difficulties with international business because some companies depend on face-to-face meetings with clients and partners. For instance, an Indian company negotiating a major contract with a European partner may benefit from meeting in person. Consequently, reducing business flights could make communication and relationship-building more difficult.
In conclusion, although limiting flights can have a positive impact on the climate, the inconvenience to individuals and businesses and its adverse effect on social connections cannot be neglected. Therefore, I believe the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the disadvantages of reducing air travel outweigh the benefits. The ideas are relevant and logically developed. The environmental benefits are discussed in the second paragraph, while the drawbacks for individuals and businesses are addressed in the third and fourth paragraphs. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more nuanced analysis, perhaps by acknowledging the long-term economic potential of green technology or the possibility of virtual meetings replacing physical ones, which would further strengthen the argument against the 'disadvantages' side.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, such as environmental impact, personal inconvenience, and business implications. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'On the other hand', 'In addition to this', and 'Consequently', which help guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure supports the development of the argument well.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'carbon emissions', 'fossil fuels', 'greenhouse gases', and 'global warming'. There is also an attempt to use less common collocations like 'adverse effect' and 'irrefutable'. While the vocabulary is accurate and conveys meaning clearly, it lacks the sophisticated, idiomatic, or highly precise lexical choices that would characterize a higher band. However, the range is adequate for the task, and there are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'if people choose trains... fewer flights are required' and the use of subordinate clauses. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The writing is clear and easy to read, and the control over complex structures is consistent. To achieve a higher score, the student could incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence types, such as inverted structures or more sophisticated passive constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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