Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

In recent years, there has been growing debate over whether a reduction in the number of people flying or group flying benefits environmental protection or is detrimental to 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 decreased 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 slow down global climate change. This is particularly important for improving breathing conditions 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 diseases in urban areas near flight hubs.

However, there are also some drawbacks to lower and commercial 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, jeopardizing their long-term prospects. Furthermore, it impede economic 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 render it a beneficial trend. Therefore, the government must enact stringent legislation to make sure the flights do not reach a level where individuals come to harm.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

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 introduction and body paragraphs successfully present arguments, such as carbon emissions reduction and economic impacts on tourism. However, some ideas contain slight confusions or unnatural phrasings like 'group flying' and 'solo flights', which occasionally detract from precise task execution. The conclusion restates the position effectively and offers a logical synthesis. Overall, the response meets the requirements for a Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, as the arguments are relevant and extended, though they could be more thoroughly supported with deeper reasoning rather than brief examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: introduction, environmental benefits, drawbacks for individuals and businesses, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are generally used well, with transition markers such as 'One of the main benefits', 'Moreover', 'However', and 'Taking everything into account'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Nevertheless, referencing is occasionally slightly repetitive or mechanical, and phrases like 'lower and commercial flights' create minor cohesion hiccups. Overall, the structural framework is clear and supports smooth reading, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'greenhouse gases', 'global mobility', and 'stringent legislation'. However, there are notable lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as 'group flying', 'solo flights', and 'impede economic growth' (where 'impedes' is needed for subject-verb agreement). Spelling is generally accurate, but some word choices lack precision or are used in unnatural contexts. The lexical range is sufficient for some flexibility, but frequent minor vocabulary awkwardnesses keep the score at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at varied subordination and relative clauses. There are several instances of good control over complex structures, such as 'While there are certain drawbacks to fewer flights... I believe...' and 'For instance, France restricted short-haul domestic flights as train travel was an alternative.' However, grammatical errors persist, including subject-verb agreement issues ('it impede economic growth' instead of 'impedes') and occasional prepositional slips. These errors rarely impede communication, allowing the response to comfortably secure a Band 6.0.

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