Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

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 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 remains paramount. The aviation industry is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions, releasing pollutants directly into the upper atmosphere where they cause severe 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 the environmental benefits of reducing air travel outweigh the disadvantages. The introduction sets out the stance effectively, and both sides of the argument are examined in well-developed body paragraphs. The first body paragraph explores the drawbacks for individuals and businesses, such as disrupted family ties, international commerce, and inflated operational costs, while the subsequent paragraph outlines the ecological necessity of curbing aviation emissions. The ideas are extended and supported logically throughout the essay, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the prompt. Therefore, this response fully satisfies the criteria for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay displays a very clear logical organization and progression throughout. Ideas are sequenced in a natural manner, starting with an introductory overview, moving to disadvantages, then counter-balancing with environmental necessity, and concluding with a well-synthesized summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'Nevertheless', and 'In conclusion' are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through the argumentation. Furthermore, paragraphing is managed skilfully, with each paragraph having a distinct central topic. There are no notable faults in referencing or logical flow, justifying a solid Band 8 rating.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Less common lexical items are used skilfully, including expressions like 'undeniable friction', 'curtailing it', 'ecological necessity', 'overarching global benefit', and 'logistical and economic hurdles'. Word choice and collocations are generally precise and natural, with only occasional minor stylistic awkwardness. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate throughout the response. The sophisticated control over vocabulary aligns well with the descriptors for Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The writer incorporates varied clause structures effectively, such as participial phrases ('releasing pollutants directly into the upper atmosphere') and conditional/concessional constructions. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and any complex structures attempted are handled with strong control over punctuation and syntax. Grammatical errors are practically non-existent, making this a clear example of Band 8 performance where the majority of sentences are error-free.

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