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)

In recent years, an incresing number of people have chosen to reduce their air travel or stop flying altogether due to environment concerns. Althought this development may create some disadvantages for individuals and businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits outweigh these drawbacks.

Firstly, the main concern is about the environment was declining. They are cutting down the trees for making the space for airports. Airplane has releasing the harmfull smoke that will cause the trees. Most of the people are taking the airplane for traveling fast but they are not thinking about the nature. The airplane produce the loud noise that effect the wildlife and the nature. Increasing air travel can contribute to climate change. More flight mean greater use of fossil fuel. Some aircraft emission at high altitude can affect atmosoheric chemistry. Busy airport generate more waste and waterwaste that need proper management.

Increased aviation emission add to the overall clmate change impact if transportation. More passengers can result in mor food packaging, plastic and other waste on flights and at airport. More air travel mat require larger airports and additional infrastructure, which can use land and affect surrounfing ecosystems. Airport expansion can disturb nearby wildlife and ecosystem. Airport require large amount of electricity for lighting, cooling and other operation.

In conclusion, the increase number of people travelling by plane can have several negative effect on the environment, such as higher carbon emission, air pollution and climate change. Therefore, people should consider more environmentally friendly modes of transport whenever possible

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to address the prompt by discussing the environmental benefits and disadvantages of air travel, but the treatment of the prompt is somewhat superficial and unbalanced. While the introduction clearly states a position that environmental benefits outweigh disadvantages, the body paragraphs struggle to fully develop this argument. The second paragraph lists several scattered points about trees, noise, and fossil fuels, while the third paragraph reiterates similar ideas regarding emissions, waste, and infrastructure without offering a well-supported distinction between the benefits for individuals/businesses and the environmental drawbacks. There is a tendency to repeat points about pollution, land use, and waste across the paragraphs, which limits the depth of task fulfilment. Consequently, the response aligns best with a Band 5.0 descriptor as the ideas are somewhat limited and repetitive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay demonstrates some organisational structure with clear introductory and concluding paragraphs, but overall cohesion is frequently faulty and mechanical. Paragraphing is attempted, with the second and third body paragraphs intended to cover distinct ideas, yet they heavily overlap in content regarding environmental damage. Cohesive devices are minimal, and referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in sentences like 'Firstly, the main concern is about the environment was declining' and 'They are cutting down the trees'. Progression within paragraphs lacks a smooth logical flow, as sentences are strung together as a list of independent observations rather than developing a coherent argument. Therefore, the overall arrangement corresponds to a Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and contains numerous errors in spelling, word choice, and word formation. Examples of noticeable errors include 'incresing', 'Althought', 'harmfull', 'atmosoheric', 'waterwaste', 'clmate change', 'mor food', and 'surrounfing'. The student attempts some less common terms related to the environment, such as 'infrastructure', 'ecosystems', and 'atmospheric chemistry', but these are often undermined by inaccurate spelling and collocation issues like 'Airplane has releasing the harmfull smoke'. While the meaning can generally be discerned, the high frequency of lexical inaccuracies places this performance firmly in the Band 5.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic subject-verb-object patterns. Attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty or ungrammatical, as seen in 'Airplane has releasing the harmfull smoke that will cause the trees' and 'More flight mean greater use of fossil fuel'. There are frequent errors in verb tense, subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'More flight mean', 'Airport require'), and article usage that cause difficulty for the reader and occasionally obscure the intended meaning. Because error-free sentences are infrequent and the control of grammar is weak, this warrants a Band 4.5 score, rounded to 5.0 based on the balance of simple structures.

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