Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
It is believed by many individuals that some people have decided to reduce number of times they fly every year or to stop flying althgether. In this essay I will explain why the enviromental benefits of this outweigh the disadvantages gor individuals and businesses.
On the one hand, some people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly. It is very good decison because it can be very helpful for all around the world and environment. People who fly every year, if they reduce their flying times it also reduce the air pollution. When people use flying transport for every journey it can makes the weather harmful which cause global warming. So, it can be more beneficial for the environment. For example, some people have many health problems related to heart and some people have difficulty in breathing so it can also very halpful for them. It can be east for them to survive alone.
On the other hand, it also have some disadvantages. For instance, people have to go by other transport which consume a lot of time so it can make some difficulties for them. Whenever they have to go urgently for their business work they may be late. Which can badly impact to their business. Some people do work with foreign companies so it can not be possible to work without visiting abroad. They have to go whenever it is important. Moreover, it is quite difficult for them to reduce the number of times they fly.
In conclusion, although it disadvantages however, the environmental benefits of this development outweight the disadvantages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages of reducing or stopping air travel for individuals and businesses. A clear position is stated in the introduction, arguing that environmental benefits outweigh the drawbacks. However, the development of ideas lacks depth and relies on repetition rather than extension. For instance, the discussion on health problems is vague and disconnected from the core theme of flying. While all parts of the task are touched upon, the arguments remain somewhat basic and under-developed, aligning best with a Band 6.0 descriptor where relevant ideas are present but lack thorough elaboration.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay is divided into four paragraphs, following a standard introduction, two body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to signal the structure of the essay. However, referencing and transitions within paragraphs can be mechanical or unclear, such as the abrupt shift in the second body paragraph regarding health problems. Furthermore, the concluding sentence is grammatically incomplete ('although it disadvantages however'), which disrupts the logical flow at the end of the text. Overall progression is visible, but the management of cohesion is sometimes faulty, fitting the Band 5.5 descriptor.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, but it remains basic and repetitive throughout the response. Phrases such as 'reduce the number of times they fly', 'environment', and 'disadvantages' are repeated frequently. There are noticeable spelling and word choice errors, including 'althgether', 'enviromental', 'decison', and 'outweight'. Attempts to use less common vocabulary are minimal, and awkward phrasing such as 'flying transport' and 'survive alone' highlights a limited lexical range. These errors do not completely impede communication, but they restrict the score to a solid Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in verb agreement, tense consistency, and punctuation. Examples include 'it also have some disadvantages', 'it can makes the weather', and 'Which can badly impact to their business', where fragments are incorrectly punctuated. Additionally, awkward phrasing and missing articles ('consuming a lot of time', 'without visiting abroad') cause occasional difficulty for the reader. The frequency of grammatical errors places this text firmly within the Band 5.0 category.
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