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 flying in groups, 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 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 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 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 impedes 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 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses, ultimately presenting a clear position throughout the essay. The ideas are generally relevant and supported, such as mentioning France's restriction on short-haul domestic flights. However, there is a minor misinterpretation in the introduction where the student introduces the phrase "or flying in groups" and "solo flights," which slightly muddies the exact scope of the prompt regarding reducing the frequency of flying. Nonetheless, the core arguments are sufficiently extended and supported, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to environmental benefits, counter-arguments regarding individuals and businesses, and a concluding summary with a recommendation. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as "One of the main benefits," "For instance," "However," and "Taking everything into account." Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear. The structural progression meets the criteria for Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate and generally sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as "detrimental," "greenhouse gases," "global mobility," and "stringent legislation." There are some attempts at less common lexical items, though occasional word choice or phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as "breathing conditions" instead of "air quality" and "lower commercial flights" instead of "a reduction in commercial flights." However, these minor inaccuracies do not impede communication, placing the writing comfortably at Band 6.5, rounded to 6.0 based on standard scoring bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a satisfactory mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like conditional and participial clauses (e.g., "While there are certain drawbacks..." and "When people choose not to fly, there will be..."). There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasings present, such as "make sure the flights do not reach a level where individuals come to harm," but these errors are infrequent and rarely impede overall communication. Control over punctuation is generally good. This level of accuracy and range corresponds well to Band 6.0 descriptors.

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