Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-19

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)

Many individuals have tried to decrease how many times they fly each year or abandon flying at all. Although flying less may have some advantages in environmental aspects, it may affect environment one or in another way. Alternatives of flying can do worse to the environment. I think, the disadvantages of individuals avoid flying are outweigh the advantages of the same. My views along with the merits and demerits are articulated in the paragraphs given below.

To begin with the benefits, flying less by people in every year can reduce the air-pollution by airplanes and helicopters. To elaborate, every year number of people prefer airways for even short distances. As a result, distance which can be easily reached by car or other vehicles, which cost too much pollution can be reduced by avoiding the flights. For example, reduce the use of car for inter-city travel can reduce the pollution in air.

However, the major drawback of avoiding flights can affect environment more. People use alternatives for traveling which will cost more pollution. To explain, in planes mass number of people use same transport service to to reach at destination, while by avoiding flights all the individuals will use their personal vehicles to at the same place. As a result, more number of cars and motorbikes by individuals can cause more pollution compared to flying in a plane combine. For example, people use their separate vehicles to reach at the same destination.

In conclusion, in spite of some advantages of less flying such as less air pollution, using different transportation may cause more air pollution than flying airplanes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student addresses the prompt by discussing the environmental advantages and disadvantages of reducing air travel, taking a clear position that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. For instance, the second body paragraph argues that reducing flights will increase car pollution, but the reasoning is slightly contradictory and conflates inter-city travel with general transport. While all parts of the task are addressed, the arguments would benefit from greater depth, specific real-world examples, and clearer extension to meet higher band requirements. Overall, the task response is adequate for a Band 5.5 to 6.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay displays a logical overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different arguments. However, cohesion is often mechanical or faulty. The student uses basic cohesive devices like 'To begin with the benefits,' 'To elaborate,' and 'However,' but referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'affect environment one or in another way' and 'avoiding flights all the individuals will use their personal vehicles to at the same place.' Furthermore, repetition of transition phrases detracts from the flow. These features align best with a Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range to communicate basic ideas related to the topic, using terms such as 'environmental aspects,' 'air-pollution,' and 'transportation.' However, there are frequent word-choice errors, unnatural collocations, and awkward phrasing, such as 'abandon flying at all,' 'affect environment one or in another way,' 'distance which can be easily reached,' and 'in a plane combine.' These errors occasionally cause minor hesitation for the reader, although they do not completely impede communication. This vocabulary profile corresponds to Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writing includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though attempts at complex structures frequently contain grammatical errors. Examples of errors include 'the disadvantages of individuals avoid flying are outweigh the advantages,' 'reducing the use of car,' and 'more number of cars and motorbikes by individuals can cause more pollution.' Punctuation and article usage are also inconsistent throughout the text. While simple sentences are generally understandable, the frequency of grammatical errors in more complex structures prevents the essay from reaching a higher band, placing it firmly at Band 5.0.

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

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