Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-13
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)
Certain individuals have decided to lower the number of times they fly each year or to stop flying at all. I think that there are many environmental benefits of not taking the flights at all for travelling purpose.
On the one Hand, In today's time, There is a need for saving our environment through various sustainable methods. If people stop flying, The pollution caused by the fuel of a flight or helicopter can be reduced significantly which will benefit our environment to a great extend.For example , A person can use public mode of transport such as buses which is more cheaper than a flight that will reduce the aviation pollution significantly in the environment. Therefore,People can stop flying to Protect their environment. Moreover, Reduction in Noise pollution is another reason that will benefit the environment.The sound caused by the flight is around 30000+ decibel which can cause hearing defect of a person.
On the Other Hand,Individuals uses this flying facility to travel from one part of world to other part for their business purpose. They use this mode to reduce the hours of travelling rather than using bus. For example, A person can reach from surat to goa in 1 hr while it take 10 hrs in a train. Therefore, People usually prefer to fly to reach a place within no time. Furthermore, People think flights as a luxury and only segment from upper middle class can afford the comfort of a flight.The flights are therefore expensive.
To sum up all, Although people who fly can have the advantages of luxury and comfort, the advantages for environment such as reduction in noise and air pollution clearly outweigh the disadvantages of individuals and businesses.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. A clear position is stated in the introduction and reinforced in the conclusion. Ideas are extended and supported, such as when the author contrasts travel times between driving or taking a train versus flying, though some arguments tend to over-generalize or rely on simplistic assumptions, such as the claim that flights produce '30000+ decibel' noise. The main points are relevant, but further depth in analyzing economic impacts on businesses would strengthen the development. Overall, the response meets the core requirements of Task Achievement at a Band 6.5 level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing used to separate opposing viewpoints ('On the one Hand' and 'On the Other Hand'). Cohesive devices are utilized, such as 'Therefore', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore', although some transitions are applied mechanically or are slightly unnatural. Logical organization is generally maintained throughout, guiding the reader from the environmental benefits to individual drawbacks and finally to a summarizing conclusion. However, referencing and paragraph internal cohesion can occasionally feel abrupt, and punctuation errors around capitalization affect the flow. This performance aligns well with Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'sustainable methods', 'significantly', and 'aviation pollution'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and phrasing, such as 'taking the flights at all for travelling purpose', 'more cheaper', and treating 'segment from upper middle class' awkwardly. Spelling is generally accurate, but inappropriate capitalization ('Hand', 'In today's time', 'There') detracts from lexical precision. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main ideas, fitting the Band 6 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditionals and relative clauses (e.g., 'If people stop flying, the pollution... can be reduced'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding subject-verb agreement ('Individuals uses', 'it take 10 hrs'), articles ('the aviation pollution', 'the environment'), and capitalization errors throughout sentences. While these errors do not severely impede overall communication, they occur regularly and limit the accuracy of complex structures, placing the grammar score solidly at Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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