Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-14

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 8.0)

An increasing number of individuals are choosing to limit their air travel or abandon flying entirely due to ecological concerns. While this shift imposes undeniable friction on personal convenience and corporate operations, the profound environmental advantages of curbing aviation emissions far outweigh these localized drawbacks.

On one hand, restricting flights introduces significant disruptions to modern lifestyles and international commerce. For individuals, air travel is often the only viable means to maintain long-distance family ties or explore diverse cultures. Curtailing it can lead to personal isolation or a diminished quality of life. For businesses, the consequences are equally severe. Companies rely heavily on rapid aviation to manage overseas supply chains, secure global contracts, and sustain international tourism. Without fast transit, global economic productivity could contract, forcing corporations to face inflated operational costs.

Nevertheless, the ecological necessity of reducing flights is paramount. The aviation industry remains a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions, releasing pollutants directly into the upper atmosphere where they cause maximum damage. Unlike ground transport, which is steadily transitioning to electricity, commercial flight lacks an immediate, scalable green substitute. Therefore, a collective reduction in passenger demand is the most powerful tool available to immediately shrink global carbon footprints. Preserving stable climate systems provides an overarching global benefit that vastly eclipses short-term financial or lifestyle inconveniences.

In conclusion, although minimizing flight frequencies creates substantial logistical and economic hurdles for individuals and companies, it represents a crucial sacrifice. The long-term protection of the planet's ecosystem is a vital priority that comfortably outweighs any temporary commercial or personal setbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear position that environmental advantages outweigh drawbacks and sustaining this argument throughout. The writer explores both sides effectively, examining the friction on personal convenience and corporate operations in the second body paragraph, before presenting a robust counter-argument regarding ecological necessity in the third. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations, such as the mention of upper-atmosphere emissions and the lack of immediate green substitutes for commercial flight. There are no missing components or under-developed arguments, earning this response a solid band score for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a well-formulated introduction, moving through the balanced body paragraphs, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'Nevertheless', and 'In conclusion' are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through the argumentation. Referencing and substitution are managed skillfully, with pronouns and lexical chains linking sentences seamlessly without mechanical awkwardness. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, contributing to an overall sense of coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The writer displays a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic essay. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully, such as 'ecological concerns', 'undeniable friction', 'overseas supply chains', and 'overarching global benefit'. Word choice is generally precise, and the phrasing sounds natural and sophisticated. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but these do not impede communication or detract from the overall high quality of the writing. The control of register and tone is consistently appropriate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing sophisticated syntactic control through conditional or participial clauses, such as 'While this shift imposes undeniable friction...'. Punctuation is handled accurately to manage complex clauses, and grammatical errors are virtually absent. The command over tense, agreement, and word formation is strong, fully meeting the criteria for an upper-band grammar score.

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