Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-28

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, an increasing number of people have chosen to diminished air travel or avoid flying altogether because of concerns about the environment. Although this decision may create some difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that the environment benefits of reducing air travel are greater.

One major advantage of flying less frequently is that it can help reduce carbon emissions. Airplanes consume large amounts of fuel, which contributes significantly to greenhous gas emissions and climate change. If fewer people travel by air, the demand for flights will decrease, potentially reducing the aviation industry's environmental impact. For example, people travelling between nearby cities could choose trains instead of airplanes. As a result, less fule would be comsumed and air pollution could be reduced. Additionally, this change could encourage governments and companies to invest in more environmentally friendly of transports.

However, reducing air travel can cause disadvantages for both individuals and businesses. For individuals, avoiding flights may make international travel more dificult, particularly for people who need to visit family members or study and work abroad. Businesses may also suffer because face-to-face meetings with international clients and partners can become less convenient. For instance, a company that operates in several countries may need to spend more time and money using alternative forms of communication or transportation. Consequently, some businesses could experience reduced efficiently and fewer opportunities for international expansion.

In conclusion, reducing air travel may create some inconvenience for individuals and businesses, especially those that depend heavily on international mobility. However, I believe that the long-term environmental benefits, particularly lower carbon emissions and reduced pressure on the climate, outweight the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the environmental benefits of reducing air travel and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay, stating that the environmental benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The ideas are relevant and supported with logical explanations and examples, such as the comparison between airplanes and trains or the impact on international meetings. Although some points could be expanded further to reach a higher level of development, the overall coverage meets the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation with a recognizable introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Progression is evident throughout, guiding the reader smoothly from the introduction of the topic to the final verdict. Cohesive devices are used effectively and generally appropriately, as seen with transitional phrases like 'One major advantage', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate distinct ideas, ensuring that each main point is given its own space. Referencing is mostly clear, contributing to a coherent overall arrangement that aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'environmental impact', 'international mobility', and 'alternative forms of communication'. However, there are a few noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'diminished' instead of 'diminish', 'greenhous' instead of 'greenhouse', 'fule' instead of 'fuel', and 'comsumed' instead of 'consumed'. Despite these slips, the vocabulary used is sufficient for precision, and the errors do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the Band 6.0 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a decent command of grammar. Examples of complex structures include conditional clauses ('If fewer people travel by air, the demand for flights will decrease') and relative clauses. There are some errors in grammar and word forms, such as 'the environment benefits' instead of 'environmental benefits' and 'more environmentally friendly of transports' instead of 'more environmentally friendly forms of transport'. Nevertheless, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede communication, allowing the essay to achieve a Band 6.5.

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