Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-12

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)

In recent decades, many individuals have decided to reduce the number of times, they fly every year and prevent flying because it is affecting the environment and air pollution levels are escalating rapidly. However, if people will not fly they will face several challenges. Therefore, I firmly believe that the disadvantages for individuals and businesses far outweigh these minor environmental benefits.

On the one hand, some people believe that they should stop to use flight for travelling, but if individuals stop flying they can face a lot of problems. This is because the tourism sector serves as a vital pillar of the national economy since foreigners visit different countries and they travel by flight. As a consequence, if stop flying governments can economy losses. and tourism will be finished. Even many pilots and crew members could become unemployed. For instance, countries trade with each other through the air route because they are using airplanes for the transportation of food, clothes and household.Thus, it is very essential for them and people cannot survive without trades and employment.

On the other hand, there are also some drawbacks of flying. Airplanes release a substantial amount of pollution and reduce the air quality, which directly affect the environment and it causes contamination. For example, countries transport their resources through the planes, but airplane pollute the atmosphere.

To conclude, tourist for the travelling using flight and they are not able to travel without airlines. Conversely, it causes contamination, hence they want to stop flying. From my perspective, restricting air travel has more disadvantages than advantages. Banning flights brings far more drawbacks then benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position throughout the essay, arguing that the disadvantages of reducing air travel outweigh the environmental benefits. Ideas are introduced regarding economic impacts, tourism, and employment, as well as environmental drawbacks. However, some arguments are under-developed and lack clear logical expansion. For example, the mention of trade and employment is somewhat repetitive and lacks specific, well-reasoned support. There is also slight confusion in the presentation of ideas, as the third paragraph briefly restates environmental drawbacks that were already touched upon. Overall, the response meets the criteria for Band 6 because it addresses all parts of the prompt with a relevant, albeit somewhat basic, set of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay displays a generally coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt at a four-paragraph structure (introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion). However, cohesion is frequently faulty and mechanical. Phrases such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' are used, but the content of the second body paragraph awkwardly repeats environmental drawbacks instead of effectively contrasting the business/individual disadvantages against them. Furthermore, referencing and logical transitions are often unclear, as seen in fragmented sentences and awkward transitions like 'As a consequence, if stop flying governments can economy losses.' Paragraphing is present, but the internal progression of ideas lacks smooth connectivity, placing this response firmly in Band 5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'escalating rapidly', 'vital pillar', and 'unemployed'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors throughout the text, such as 'prevent flying' instead of 'stop flying', 'stop flying governments can economy losses', and 'tourist for the travelling using flight'. Spelling and word-form inaccuracies are frequent enough to cause some strain for the reader, particularly in the conclusion and body paragraphs where terms like 'trades' and 'contamination' are used repetitively. These limitations restrict the lexical score to Band 5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional clauses ('if people will not fly they will face several challenges'). However, grammar and punctuation control is weak, with frequent errors that occasionally impede communication. Examples include tense and modal verb errors ('if people will not fly', 'if stop flying'), missing subjects or verbs ('if stop flying governments can economy losses'), and run-on structures. Punctuation errors are also apparent, such as unnecessary commas ('number of times, they fly'). Because complex structures are frequently faulty and errors cause difficulty for the reader, the performance aligns with Band 5.

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

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