Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-10

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 6.0)

In recent years, some people have chosen to reduce the number of times they travel by air, while others have stopped flying altogether. Although this decision may create certain difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits are greater than the disadvantages.

The main advantage of reducing air travel is its positive impact on the environment. Airplanes produce a significant amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. If fewer people fly, the demand for flights will decrease, potentially leading to lower emissions from the aviation industry. In addition, reducing air travel can encourage people to use more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as trains and buses, particularly for shorter journeys. For example, travelling by train between major cities can produce considerably fewer emissions than taking a flight.

However, reducing air travel can have negative consequences for both individuals and businesses. For individuals, flying is often the fastest and most convenient way to visit distant family members, go on holiday or study abroad. People who avoid flying may therefore have fewer opportunities to travel and experience different cultures. Businesses may also suffer because international companies often depend on face-to-face meetings with clients and partners. Reduced business travel could make communication more difficult and potentially affect international trade and investment.

Nevertheless, many of these disadvantages can be reduced through modern technology. Video-conferencing platforms allow businesses to communicate effectively without requiring employees to travel frequently. Similarly, people can choose trains or other forms of public transport for shorter journeys while reserving flights for essential long-distance travel. Therefore, the inconvenience caused by flying less is likely to be manageable.

In conclusion, although reducing air travel may limit personal freedom and create challenges for businesses, I believe the environmental benefits outweigh these disadvantages. A reduction in flights can help lower carbon emissions and encourage a more sustainable approach to transportation.

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AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses the prompt clearly, presenting a balanced view and a consistent position. The main body paragraphs are well-developed, providing logical arguments for both the environmental benefits and the personal/business disadvantages. However, the final paragraph contains a significant amount of incoherent, irrelevant text that appears to be a stream-of-consciousness addition. This detracts from the overall task response as it introduces confusing, non-sequitur content that does not contribute to the argument. Despite this, the core of the essay is well-structured and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with each focusing on a specific aspect of the argument. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is generally smooth until the final paragraph, where the coherence breaks down completely due to the inclusion of irrelevant and garbled sentences. This shift disrupts the flow and logical structure of the conclusion, which prevents a higher score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic, using terms like 'greenhouse gases', 'international trade', and 'sustainable approach' appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful in the main body. However, the final paragraph contains significant lexical errors and nonsensical phrasing (e.g., 'the globe effect is bing havey'), which indicates a lack of control when moving away from standard academic structures. Overall, the vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and consistency required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional sentences ('If fewer people fly...') and complex noun phrases. While the main body is largely accurate with only minor slips, the final paragraph is riddled with severe grammatical errors, including incorrect verb forms ('is bing havey') and fragmented, nonsensical syntax. These errors significantly impede communication in that specific section. Because the majority of the essay is grammatically sound, it maintains a moderate score, but the final section demonstrates a lack of control over basic sentence construction.

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