Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-25
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)
Many people argue that reducing the frequency of flying every year or completely ceasing it may help to solve the environmental issues. In my opinion this step will contribute to the improvement of our environment in contrast to the diasadvantage for individuals and business as flights are not only expensive but consume a huge amount of fuel as well.
Firstly, the most expensive mode of transportation for public is flying. It leaves a huge impact on the budget of a common man. Reducing the frequency of flying or taking it only during emergency and considering more from an economic angle will help to reduce the financial in
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response suffers from a critical length issue, containing only 107 words against the mandatory 250-word minimum requirement. Consequently, the task can only be addressed partially. While the introduction states a position in favour of reducing flights, the development is severely truncated. The student attempts to discuss the economic disadvantages for individuals, but the essay cuts off mid-sentence with the phrase 'help to reduce the financial in', leaving the argument completely undeveloped and failing to weigh the environmental benefits against disadvantages for both individuals and businesses as prompted. Because of this severe under-length and incomplete development, the response meets the descriptors for Band 4.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text demonstrates some basic organisational structure by opening with an introductory paragraph and attempting a body paragraph introduced by 'Firstly'. However, overall progression is severely hindered by the premature cut-off of the text. Cohesive devices are minimal, and referencing is limited. Paragraphing is initiated, but the essay lacks a concluding paragraph and does not form a cohesive whole due to its unfinished nature. While logical sequencing is attempted at the sentence level, the overall arrangement is incomplete. This performance aligns with Band 5.0 for Coherence and Cohesion, as there is some organisation but no clear overall progression or completion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student uses vocabulary that is minimally adequate for the task, with phrases such as 'reduce the frequency of flying', 'environmental issues', and 'mode of transportation'. However, there are notable word choice and collocation issues, such as 'diasadvantage' (spelling error), 'ceasing it' instead of 'stopping flying', and 'taking it only during emergency'. The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive, and the text ends abruptly with an incomplete word ('financial in'). Despite these limitations, communication is established in the sentences that are completed. This demonstrates a lexical profile consistent with Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Many people argue that reducing the frequency of flying every year or completely ceasing it may help to solve the environmental issues.' There are grammatical errors present, such as missing articles ('the diasadvantage for individuals and business') and awkward phrasing ('taking it only during emergency'). Furthermore, the response ends with an unfinished sentence fragment. While basic sentence forms are controlled, the presence of frequent errors and the inability to complete complex structures safely place this response at Band 5.0 according to the official descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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