Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-29

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)

In recent years, debate has grown over whether reducing the number of people flying, or flying in groups, benefits environmental development or harms individuals and businesses. While there are certain drawbacks to fewer flights and solo flights, I believe the advantages far outweigh them.

One of the main benefits of fewer flights and solo flights is that it reduces carbon dioxide emissions, as airplanes burn large amounts of fossil fuels and release high levels of greenhouse gases, so fewer flights directly slows down global climate change. This is especially important for improving air quality in nearby communities. For instance, France restricted short-haul domestic flights as train travel was an alternative. This policy resulted in fewer carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, cleaner air reduces the chances of asthma and also lessens the rate of heart disease in urban areas near flight hubs.

However, there are also some drawbacks to fewer and solo flights that directly impact individuals and businesses, such as loss of personal and career opportunities for individuals. This can be problematic because it limits global mobility, making it harder for students to get international education, specialized training, and overseas jobs. For example, a student who wins a scholarship abroad may miss the chance to travel, hurting their long-term path. Furthermore, it harms business growth because many island nations and developing regions rely almost entirely on international tourism to survive. When people choose not to fly, there will be job losses, poverty, and business closures.

Taking everything into account, despite the disadvantages mentioned, I firmly believe that the advantages of fewer flights make it a positive development. Therefore, it is crucial that the government impose laws and regulations to make sure the flights do not reach a level where individuals come to harm.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses, maintaining a clear position throughout. The main ideas are generally relevant and supported with examples, such as mentioning France restricting short-haul domestic flights. However, there is a slight misinterpretation in the prompt's focus, as the student repeatedly refers to reducing the number of "solo flights" alongside fewer flights, which slightly confuses the core concept of aviation reduction. Furthermore, some arguments, such as the impacts on island nations, remain somewhat generalised and could be extended further. Despite these minor limitations in idea development and the slight confusion regarding solo flights, the response satisfies the requirements for a Band 6.5, leaning towards Band 7 for its clear overall stance and relevant examples. Therefore, it fits comfortably into Band 6.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, dividing the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion appropriately. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving from environmental advantages in the second paragraph to individual and business disadvantages in the third paragraph. Cohesive devices are used to connect ideas, such as "Moreover," "Furthermore," and "Taking everything into account." However, referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the vague transition between concepts in the opening paragraph where "solo flights" is introduced somewhat awkwardly. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, and while cohesion can occasionally feel slightly mechanical, the overall progression is clear enough to satisfy the criteria for Band 6.5, rounding to Band 6 due to minor mechanical referencing issues.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as "greenhouse gases," "global mobility," and "specialized training." Words are generally used with sufficient control so that meaning is easily conveyed, although there are minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, notably the recurring phrase "solo flights" which does not accurately denote individual passenger decisions in the context of commercial aviation. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and vocabulary does not impede communication. This performance aligns well with the Band 6 descriptor, showing an adequate range that attempts less common vocabulary despite some inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over relative clauses and conditional-like structures, such as "While there are certain drawbacks... I believe..." and "When people choose not to fly, there will be job losses..." There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, such as missing articles or slightly awkward phrasing in complex sentences, but these errors rarely impede communication. The majority of simple sentences are accurate, and punctuation is generally handled well. This demonstrates the typical balance of a Band 6 performance, featuring a mix of structures alongside manageable errors that do not disrupt the overall flow of reading.

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

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