Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-27

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)

In an era of growing environmental consciousness, a burgeoning number of individuals are choosing to curtail or completely cease air travel. While this trend undoubtedly presents certain economic and personal drawbacks, I am convinced that its ecological advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.On the one hand, reducing air travel can have detrimental consequences. For individuals, flying is often not a luxury but a necessity. It enables people to maintain long-distance relationships, explore diverse cultures, and pursue educational opportunities abroad. Restricting flights would essentially curtail personal freedom and global exposure. For businesses, the impact could be even more severe. Many corporations rely heavily on face-to-face meetings to build trust and secure international deals. A decline in business travel could stifle global trade, hinder economic growth, and lead to significant revenue losses for the aviation and tourism industries, which employ millions of people worldwide.Nevertheless, the environmental benefits of flying less are profound and cannot be ignored. Aviation is one of the fastest-growing contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for a substantial portion of global carbon dioxide. Each long-haul flight emits more carbon than an average person produces in an entire year in some countries. By choosing alternatives like video conferencing or high-speed rail, we can drastically reduce our carbon footprint. Furthermore, this shift in behaviour sends a powerful message to governments and corporations, accelerating investment in sustainable transport technologies, such as electric aircraft and efficient rail networks. The long-term survival of the planet, in my view, takes precedence over short-term convenience and profit.In conclusion, although limiting air travel poses genuine challenges for personal mobility and commercial activities, the imperative need to combat climate change makes this a positive development. The environmental gains are simply too significant to be outweighed by its disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the disadvantages for individuals and businesses and the environmental benefits of reducing air travel, and presents a clear, well-supported position throughout. The writer's stance that environmental advantages outweigh drawbacks is established early in the introduction ('I am convinced that its ecological advantages far outweigh the disadvantages') and maintained cohesively. Ideas are well-developed, such as the discussion on how aviation contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of business travel restrictions on global trade. Examples are relevant, well-reasoned, and adequately extended without straying off-topic, easily meeting the Band 8 standard for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear, logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to the drawbacks for individuals, the impact on businesses, the environmental benefits, and finally a succinct conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, as seen with phrases like 'On the one hand', 'Nevertheless', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct thematic blocks of argument. Referencing and substitution are managed well, ensuring that the relationships between ideas remain transparent and easy to follow. Although some transitional elements are fairly standard, cohesion serves the progression of ideas seamlessly, placing this securely at Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common items such as 'burgeoning', 'curtail', 'ecological advantages', and 'carbon footprint' are used accurately and demonstrate an awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are precise, as shown in phrases like 'stifle global trade' and 'accelerating investment'. Although there are occasional minor slips or slightly conventional choices, spelling and word formation are accurate throughout. The lexical range allows the writer to convey precise meanings smoothly, fully satisfying the requirements for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay employs a wide variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional or participial clauses ('By choosing alternatives like video conferencing..., we can drastically reduce...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing good control of grammar and punctuation. There is consistent control over tense and agreement, even within longer, multi-clause sentences such as 'Many corporations rely heavily on face-to-face meetings to build trust and secure international deals.' Only very occasional minor slips occur, which do not impede communication. This level of syntactic variety and accuracy strongly aligns with the Band 8 descriptor.

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