Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
Some people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether . This action has both advantages and disadvantages.
On the one hand , reducing the number of times people fly can lead to a healthier environment . Airplanes need a lot of burning fuel which produces harmful gas emissions like carbon - dioxide that causes air pollution and leads to global warmimg . It also leads to the shortage of fossil fuels for the upcoming years .
On the other hand , it can also lead to shutting down of bussinesses and loss of many individuals because many bussinesses and inviduals benefit from selling imported goods which will be stopped , causing a decline in the economic growth . They can also cause a delay because airplanes are the fastest mode of transportation .
In conclusion , reducing the number of times people fly is a very tough decision which has both advantages and disadvantages . B But according to me , it is worthy to sacrifice for of our environment .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses regarding the reduction of flying. A clear position is stated in the conclusion. However, the ideas are under-developed and lack specific examples, relying on general statements like 'many bussinesses and inviduals benefit from selling imported goods'. Furthermore, the Length Check confirms that the text contains only 181 words, falling significantly short of the 250-word minimum requirement. Consequently, this limitation heavily impacts task fulfillment, resulting in a lower band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into four short paragraphs, representing an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is a basic logical progression, using standard transitional markers such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. However, the overall organization is extremely brief and lacks sophisticated progression. Cohesive devices are somewhat mechanical and repetitive, and paragraphing is underdeveloped due to the overall short length of the text. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of extended argumentation limits the complexity of the cohesive structures used.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, covering common topic-related terms such as 'environment', 'gas emissions', 'air pollution', 'fossil fuels', and 'economic growth'. However, there are noticeable spelling errors ('warmimg', 'bussinesses', 'inviduals') and some awkward word choices, such as 'loss of many individuals' instead of a more precise economic term. The range of vocabulary is limited and lacks the flexibility and precision needed for higher bands. While communication is not impeded, the vocabulary remains basic and repetitive.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses ('Airplanes need a lot of burning fuel which produces harmful gas emissions...'). There are, however, several grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the text, including spacing issues around punctuation marks, a typo ('B But'), and slightly awkward phrasing like 'it is worthy to sacrifice for of our environment'. Despite these errors, the grammatical structures used are generally understandable and do not impede overall communication. The range of structures remains somewhat limited.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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