Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-22

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)

Nowadays some people are traveling less or not at all by using aeroplanes. Airlines are experiencing less air travels, this tend has its economical draw back, however also provides environmental benefits that in my opinion outweigh the disadvantages.

Traveling by air is one of the major sources of income, contributing in GDP of many countries. Airlines are creating many jobs, decline in number of patron is forcing airlines to restracture htem self this may leads to loss many jobs. The numbers of air travels are reducing by passing year due to high ticket prices, this can cause shortage of turism and bussiness growth as airoplanes are still fastest ways of traveling. The decreasein use of air travels can cause risks for many countries and small buisnesses.

In past years, there is constant decline in frequency of travels made by aeroplane. The general perception about usinfg flights changing due to high ticket prices and environmnetal awarness, resultant in decline of airline customers. Due to this trend airlines are bound to reduce number of flights, due to less demand causing lower rate of carbon emmision by planes. The noticeable decline in greenhouse gases like carbon monooxide, can reduce effects of global warming and unpredictable environmental changes.

I think, environmental benefits outweigh the disadvandages. caused by lack of air travels. Many contries are now working on fast and environmental friendly means of traveling. The bullet train is the prominent example of that, people can travel from one palce to another at very fast speed without causing any environmental damage. Many compnies are working on prototypes of new type of airoplane that can fly on solar energy. I think we will ovecome the challenges over time, but the enviornmental benefits of not using flights are saving our planet in the mean time.

Inconclusion, taking less or no fligh has its economical disadvantages but is very beneficial for our planet. With thehelp of modren techology we will develop new fast and environment freindly means of traveling, until then avoiding unnecessary use of aeroplane can reduce damage cause by harmful gases.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the economic disadvantages and the environmental benefits of reducing air travel, and clearly presents a personal position that the environmental benefits outweigh the negatives. The ideas are relevant and generally extended, mentioning GDP contributions, job losses, and climate change mitigation. However, some arguments are slightly repetitive or under-developed, such as the brief mentions of tourism and future technologies. The response fits comfortably within the Band 6 descriptor because it addresses all parts of the task with a clear overall position and relevant ideas, though some areas require deeper extension.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay has a clear overall arrangement with a distinct introduction, body paragraphs addressing economic and environmental aspects, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty or mechanical, as seen in awkward transitional phrases and run-on structures like 'Airlines are experiencing less air travels, this tend has its economical draw back...'. Referencing and cohesive devices are occasionally imprecise, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Overall, the logical progression is evident, matching the Band 6 requirements.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'carbon emission', 'greenhouse gases', and 'environmental awareness'. However, there are frequent spelling and word-choice errors throughout the text, including 'economical draw back' instead of economic drawback, 'restracture htem self' instead of restructure themselves, 'turism' instead of tourism, and 'environmnetal awarness'. These errors do not impede overall communication, but they occur consistently, placing the lexical resource firmly in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range. Band 6 is appropriate as the range is adequate for the task despite the noticeable inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over multi-clause structures (e.g., 'Airlines are bound to reduce number of flights, due to less demand causing lower rate of carbon emmision by planes'). However, there are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors, including missing articles, subject-verb agreement issues ('this tend has', 'The numbers of air travels are reducing'), and comma splices. While these errors are noticeable and require the reader to occasionally pause, they rarely impede overall communication. This performance aligns well with the Band 5.5 descriptor, rounded to 5.5.

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

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