Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In recent years, some people have chosen to reduce the number of times they travel by air or to stop flying altogether. Although this decision can create some difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits of reducing air travel outweigh these disadvantages.

One major advantage of flying less is that it can help reduce carbon emissions. Air travel requires a large amount of fuel, which produces greenhouse gases and contributes to climate change. If fewer people take flights, the overall demand for air travel may decrease, leading to lower emissions from the aviation industry. In addition, reducing air travel can encourage people to use alternative forms of transport, such as trains, particularly for shorter journeys. For example, someone travelling between two cities could choose a train instead of a flight, which can reduce the environmental impact of the journey.

However, reducing air travel can have disadvantages for both individuals and businesses. People who frequently travel for work may find it more difficult to attend international meetings, conferences or training programmes. Similarly, companies that depend on international customers may have fewer opportunities to meet clients and develop business relationships. For individuals, avoiding flights can also make international travel more expensive or time-consuming because alternative forms of transport may take considerably longer. Nevertheless, many meetings can now be conducted online, while businesses can use video conferencing to maintain contact with international partners.

In conclusion, reducing air travel can create some inconvenience and financial disadvantages for individuals and businesses. However, I believe that these drawbacks are outweighed by the environmental benefits, particularly the potential reduction in carbon emissions and the encouragement of more sustainable forms of transportation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing the environmental benefits of reducing air travel and weighing them against the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. A clear position is established in the introduction ('I believe that the environmental benefits... outweigh these disadvantages') and maintained consistently throughout the essay. The main body paragraphs provide relevant ideas, such as reducing carbon emissions and encouraging alternative transport like trains, while acknowledging the drawbacks of attending international meetings or conducting global business. These ideas are supported with appropriate explanations and examples, such as travelling between two cities. Overall, the task is well handled and meets all the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction, followed by a body paragraph on environmental advantages, a contrasting body paragraph on disadvantages and mitigations, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, such as 'Although this decision', 'One major advantage', 'In addition', and 'Nevertheless'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the argument, ensuring that the response is easy to follow and coherent from beginning to end, comfortably satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, using terms like 'greenhouse gases', 'aviation industry', 'sustainable forms of transportation', and 'video conferencing'. There is some awareness of collocation and style, although the vocabulary remains largely standard rather than highly sophisticated. Word choices are generally accurate, and spelling is correct throughout. While it does not consistently display the wide, fluent range of uncommon lexical items required for higher bands, it easily satisfies the criteria for Band 6.5 with well-controlled and appropriate word usage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and relative clauses such as 'If fewer people take flights, the overall demand...' and 'People who frequently travel for work may find it more difficult...'. There is good control of grammar and punctuation, with frequent error-free sentences. Minor errors are virtually absent, and the student demonstrates a solid command of sentence boundaries and tense consistency. The grammatical control displayed is strong and aligns well with the descriptors for a Band 7.0.

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