Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The topic of stopping flying altogether has become a widely discussed issue in contemporary society. Some people believe that it has several advantages, while others argue that it may have certain disadvantages. This essay will critically evaluate the key benefits and drawbacks before reaching a well-reasoned conclusion.
On the one hand, proponents of stopping flying altogether primarily contend that the environment can save fossils and reduce air pollution, which can have a significant impact on oxygen, and every individual is more likely to take pollution free oxygen. Additionally, supporters of this development argue that it can contribute to a more sustainable local transport system; as a result, it tends to help the environment to maintain their productivity and longevity. A pertinent illustration of this can be seen in some countries, where they are minimising their flying journey and protecting their environment, thereby highlighting the tangible benefits of this approach.
On the other hand, one significant disadvantage of stopping flying altogether is that it can create some business-related difficulties. This is because an air industry player will face economical probloems, which can ultimately lead to facing some issues to improve the country's infrastructure. Another key explanation is that when we need to go overseas rapidly, that's time, without a faster plane or other aircraft we have to face several problems in emergency situations, directly influencing the ability of [people] to [desired].
In conclusion, after examining these arguments, I am convinced that the advantages are far more crucial. While various dimensions surround this issue, the analysis above makes it clear that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, primarily because we can protect the environment from air pollution, which helps us to enhance our life expectancy. Therefore, this remains the most practical path forward.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses, presenting a clear position throughout. The introduction sets out the essay structure, and the body paragraphs cover arguments on both sides. However, some ideas lack depth and are slightly repetitive or vague, such as the mention that the environment can 'save fossils' or references to 'people to desired' at the end of the third paragraph. While the position is clear, the development of ideas stops short of full elaboration, placing this performance in the Band 6 range. Ideas are relevant, but the support tends to be superficial rather than thoroughly extended.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs presenting opposing views, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are employed to guide the reader through the text, although some cohesive links feel slightly mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional awkward phrasing, such as 'that's time, without a faster plane', slightly disrupts the natural flow of progression. Overall, the organisational structure is logical and meets the requirements for a Band 6 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms like 'contemporary society', 'sustainable local transport system', and 'emergency situations'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations throughout the text, such as 'save fossils' instead of conserving fossil fuels, 'pollution free oxygen', and 'economical probloems' (alongside a spelling error). Attempts to use less common lexical items are sometimes marred by imprecise usage, which places the vocabulary performance firmly at Band 6, where the range is sufficient to communicate the main points despite recurring word-choice errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like conditional clauses and relative clauses effectively in places. There are, however, several grammatical errors and awkward syntactic formations, particularly in the third paragraph with phrases like 'an air industry player will face economical probloems, which can ultimately lead to facing some issues' and the incomplete fragment 'directly influencing the ability of [people] to [desired]'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while these errors do occasionally cause friction for the reader, they rarely completely impede communication, resulting in a solid Band 6 score for grammatical accuracy and range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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