Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-23

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 7.0)

There has been a growing tendency among some people to reduce their reliance on air travel or avoid flying completely because of environmental concerns. Although this development may create certain difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that its environmental benefits are greater overall.

One disadvantage of reducing air travel is that it can limit people's opportunities to travel internationally. For individuals, flying is often the fastest and most convenient way to visit family members, take holidays or study abroad. If people choose not to fly, they may have to use slower forms of transport, which can make international travel more expensive and time-consuming. Businesses may also be affected, particularly those that depend on international clients and face-to-face meetings. For example, companies with offices in several countries may find it more difficult to maintain business relationships if their employees are unable to travel regularly.

However, reducing air travel can provide significant environmental benefits. Aircraft consume large quantities of fossil fuels and produce greenhouse-gas emissions, so fewer flights can contribute to reducing the environmental impact of transportation. If more people replace unnecessary flights with alternatives such as trains or online meetings, overall emissions could be reduced. For instance, a business meeting that would normally require several employees to fly to another country could instead be conducted through video conferencing. This would eliminate the emissions associated with the journey while still allowing the participants to communicate effectively.

Furthermore, individual choices can contribute to broader changes in society. If demand for unnecessary flights decreases, businesses may have greater incentives to invest in cleaner technologies and alternative methods of transportation. Although one person's decision to fly less may have a limited effect, similar choices made by millions of people could have a considerably larger impact.

In conclusion, reducing air travel can cause inconvenience for individuals and create challenges for businesses that depend on international mobility. Nevertheless, I believe that these disadvantages are outweighed by the potential environmental benefits, particularly the reduction in transport-related emissions and the encouragement of more sustainable alternatives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the disadvantages for individuals and businesses and the environmental benefits of reducing air travel. A clear position is established in the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning international family visits, video conferencing as an alternative, and the broader societal impacts of reduced demand. The response meets all criteria for Band 7, leaning toward Band 8 due to the thorough development of each argument, though a few points could be expanded even further to reach the highest levels of task response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to disadvantages, then to environmental benefits, societal change, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'One disadvantage', 'However', 'For instance', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively and flexibly to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall arrangement is coherent. The student achieves a solid Band 7 performance in this criterion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, such as 'growing tendency', 'reliance on air travel', 'greenhouse-gas emissions', and 'international mobility'. Less common lexical items are attempted with good awareness of style and collocation, including phrases like 'maintain business relationships' and 'cleaner technologies'. While the vocabulary is natural and appropriate for an academic task, it occasionally stops short of the wide, highly sophisticated range characteristic of Band 8. However, there are virtually no spelling or word-choice errors, making this a strong Band 7 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writing exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, such as conditional clauses ('If people choose not to fly, they may have to use...') and relative clauses ('a business meeting that would normally require several employees...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates good control of grammar and punctuation. Errors are virtually non-existent, and complex sentences are handled with accuracy and natural flow, comfortably placing this performance at a Band 7.5 level.

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