Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Some individuals have started to decrease the number of flights they take each year or have completely stopped flying. Although this can provide some environmental benefits by reducing pollution and carbon emissions, I believe that the disadvantages for individuals and businesses are greater.

To begin with, reducing the number of flights would have a positive effect on the environment. This is because planes require large mount of fuel to operate, which contributes to air pollution and climate change. For instance, if an airline reduced the number of unnecessary short distance flights, fewer planes would operate and resulting less aviation fuel to be consumed.

However, this can significantly affect individuals and businesses. Firstly, fewer flights can make it difficult for individuals to visit their families overseas. The main reason for this is that flights are one of the fastest and most convenient ways to travel long distances. As a result, individuals may be unable to visit their families as frequently. For example, an international student living in Australia whose family lives in another country may find it difficult to return home regularly if there are fewer flights available.

Similarly, fewer flights can negatively affect the growth of businesses. Without regular air travel, companies may find it difficult to meet international clients, as face-to-face communication can be important for building trust and maintaining professional relationships. Consequently, businesses may struggle to maintain strong connections with overseas clients. For example, a multinational company with clients in several countries may need its employees to travel overseas regularly to meet clients and discuss important projects.

In conclusion, decreasing the number of flights may lead to less air pollution and provide environmental benefits. However, I believe that the disadvantages for individuals and businesses, particularly the difficulties associated with travelling and maintaining international business relationships, are greater.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task directly and presents a clear position throughout, concluding that the environmental benefits are outweighed by the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as mentioning international students visiting families and multinational companies needing face-to-face meetings. While some arguments could be explored in even greater depth to reach the highest bands, the task is covered thoroughly and effectively, meeting the Band 7 requirements well.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the environmental perspective, followed by individual and business impacts, and culminating in a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'To begin with', 'However', 'Firstly', and 'Consequently'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively to group related ideas, supporting overall readability and earning a solid Band 7 rating.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with adequate flexibility and precision for the task. Phrases like 'carbon emissions', 'international client', 'professional relationships', and 'multinational company' show good topic-specific lexical control. There are occasional slight awkwardness in phrasing, such as 'large mount of fuel' (missing 'a') and 'resulting less aviation fuel' (grammatical slip), but vocabulary use is generally clear and communicates the intended meaning without difficulty, fitting the Band 6.5 to 7 descriptor range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, utilizing conditional forms ('if an airline reduced...') and relative clauses ('whose family lives in another country...'). There are some minor grammatical errors present, such as 'large mount of fuel' instead of 'a large amount', and 'resulting less' instead of 'resulting in less'. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede communication, allowing the writer to comfortably secure a Band 7 for grammar and accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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