Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-08

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 5.0)

These days, many flights are going on internationally. A few people have chosen to minimise the number of solo flights yearly or halt group flights. I strongly believe that it is an advantage to lower fuel costs. Moreover, it can reduce the accidents of plane crashes.

The main advantage is that fuel costs may be lower. Because of this, ticket charges might be lower. While fuel prices are high, ticket prices will also be higher. In addition, there is also a reduction in aeroplane crashes. For example, a recent plane crash happened. The Indian aeroplane crashed in the parking area.

The drawback of this development is that it may reduce tourism. The tourists may visit less. International flights have a main objective of world tours. Therefore, this has caused a loss for these flights. For instance,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. While you attempt to address the prompt, the arguments are underdeveloped and lack depth. You mention environmental benefits but focus primarily on fuel costs and plane crashes, which are not the core environmental issues associated with flying. The conclusion is incomplete, and the overall position is not fully explored. To improve, you must expand your points with detailed explanations and relevant examples, ensuring you meet the word count to allow for a comprehensive discussion of both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas is limited due to the brevity of the text. Cohesive devices are used in a very basic and repetitive manner, such as starting sentences with 'The main advantage' and 'In addition'. The final paragraph is incomplete, which disrupts the logical flow of the argument. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence followed by supporting details that connect logically to the main argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive. You rely on simple terms like 'flights', 'costs', and 'crashes' throughout the text. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or an awareness of style and collocation. For example, 'solo flights' and 'group flights' are not the most natural ways to describe commercial air travel. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to the environment and the aviation industry, such as 'carbon footprint', 'economic repercussions', or 'mitigation strategies'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, there are grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'many flights are going on internationally' and 'reduce the accidents of plane crashes'. Punctuation is generally functional, but the lack of sentence variety restricts your ability to demonstrate control over complex structures. To improve, focus on using a mix of subordinate and coordinate clauses to create more sophisticated sentence patterns, and ensure subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage.

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

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