Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

In recent years, some people have decided to reduce the number of times they take annually or stop flying completely becuase of environmental concerns. Although this decision may contain certain difficulties for individuals and businesses, I firmly believe that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

In the beginning, reducing air travel can have a positive impact on environment. Aircrafts release large amount of carbondioxide and other pollutants in the atmosphere, which contribute to climate change. If more people choose alternative forms of transport such as trains and buses, the demands for flights may decrease, leading to lower emissions. For instance, people traveling short distances could use trains instead of aeroplanes, which would help reduce their carbon footprint. Moreover, fewer flights could reduce noise pollution around airports and improve the quality of life for nearby residents.

Despite this, reducing air travel can cause disadvantages for cosiderable proportion of individuals and businesses. People who need to travel abroad for work, education and family reasons may find it difficult and time consuming to use alternative transport. Similarly, companies that depend on international travel may face challenges when meeting clients or developing business relationships. The tourism industry could also suffer financially if fewer people travel by air, resulting in reduced income for hotels, restaurants and local businesses. However, these difficulties can be reduced through online meetings and by encouraging more sustainable travel options, particularly for shorter journeys.

To conclude, although flying less may cause inconvenience to individuals and financial difficulties for some businesses, I believe that the environmental advantages are more significant. Reducing air travel can help lower pollution and protect the environment for future generations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. The writer presents a clear position throughout the essay, stating that the environmental benefits outweigh the drawbacks in both the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the use of trains for short journeys and the financial impact on the tourism industry. While some of the supporting points could have been expanded further to reach the highest bands, the task is fully addressed in a structured and relevant manner, comfortably earning a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving logically from the introduction to the environmental benefits, the disadvantages for businesses and individuals, and finally a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Although', 'For instance', 'Moreover', and 'Despite this'. However, the transitional phrase 'In the beginning' is slightly unnatural for introducing the first body paragraph and would be better expressed as 'To begin with' or 'First and foremost'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, maintaining overall coherence.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using topic-specific terms like 'carbon footprint', 'noise pollution', and 'sustainable travel options'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, though a few spelling errors occur, such as 'becuase' and 'cosiderable', along with a minor word choice error ('take annually' instead of 'flights annually'). Despite these occasional slips, the lexical resource is adequate to convey meaning clearly and precisely, matching the Band 6.5 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over structures such as conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'If more people choose alternative forms of transport...'). There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'Aircrafts release large amount of carbondioxide' (missing articles and non-count noun usage with 'amount', plus 'Aircraft' is usually uncountable in this context) and 'in the atmosphere' (better as 'into the atmosphere'). However, these errors do not impede communication, and the majority of sentences remain clear, justifying a Band 6.5.

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