Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-20

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)

The consumption of fossil fuels is leaving detrimental effects in our surroundings. As a result, many individuals have took a decision to lower their on air travel or avoid flights at all. While it reduces the carbon emissions, its advantages does not outweigh disadvantages as it not only results in falling airways economy but also invites unemployment.

To commence with the demerits, lower number of travellers by plane will eventually lead to the crashing of jet bussinesses. Moreover, people making a living just from this field will struggle to meet their sustenance. For instance, the falling number of individuals travelling on air will result in dwindling revenue for the airway enterprises.

Addint further to the drawbacks, if the trend is followed, a fall in income will ultimately be an invitation for loss in jobs. Owing to the losses, they will have to terminate most of their employees. Additionally, this will impact many categories like hospitality, tourism, technicians, and commercial pilots as well. To cite an example, no sooner did a large amount of population refused to access flights, than the excess number of pilots were dismissed.

On the contrary, there are certain benefits to the environment including, less carbon footprint. Furthermore, the amount of petroleum derived energy planes require were terribly high, which can be saved too. To exemplify, many planes left unattended by tourists, resulted in cancellation of flying. Eventually, saving thousands of litres of gasoline.

In conclusion, albeit it alleviates the release of toxic fumes, fiscal loss of air tourism as well as impact on profession is why I believe, the drawbacks outperforms merits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by presenting a clear position on whether the environmental benefits of reduced flying outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. The writer takes a clear stance that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, arguing points related to economic decline in the airline industry and potential job losses. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning hospitality, tourism, technicians, and commercial pilots. While the development of some ideas is slightly generalised, the overall task is addressed well, fulfilling the core requirements of an academic essay at a Band 6.5 level, comfortably fitting the Band 6 to 7 criteria for task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction to two distinct disadvantage body paragraphs, a contrasting advantage paragraph, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed to signal transitions, such as 'To commence with', 'Addint further', and 'On the contrary'. However, paragraphing and referencing are occasionally impacted by minor mechanical errors or awkward phrasing, such as 'Addint further' and 'albeit it alleviates'. Nevertheless, the overarching arrangement remains coherent and easy to follow, aligning closely with the descriptors for a Band 6.0 or solid 6.5 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'sustenance', 'dwindling revenue', 'toxic fumes', and 'fiscal loss'. However, there are noticeable word-choice errors and typos, such as 'have took', 'jet bussinesses', and 'Addint further'. Furthermore, some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'falling airways economy' instead of 'decline in the aviation sector'. Despite these inaccuracies, communication is never impeded, and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, placing this performance securely at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures ('if the trend is followed') and inverted structures ('no sooner did a large amount of population refused...'). However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several noticeable errors, such as 'its advantages does not outweigh' (agreement error), 'lower on air travel' (preposition error), and tense inconsistencies like 'refused' following 'did'. While complex structures are attempted, they frequently contain errors that require the reader to re-read slightly, though meaning is ultimately clear. This performance fits the Band 6 descriptor well.

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

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