Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

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 slow 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 diseases in urban areas near flight hubs.

However, there are also some drawbacks to reducing 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 response addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position throughout. The writer discusses both the environmental benefits (reducing carbon emissions and air pollution) and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses (career opportunities, global mobility, and tourism-based economies). Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of France restricting short-haul domestic flights. However, there is a slight misinterpretation in the introduction regarding 'flying in groups', which slightly detracts from the precise focus of the prompt, but the overall development is solid, earning a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction, moving to environmental benefits, then disadvantages, and concluding with a well-summarised stance. Cohesive devices such as 'For instance', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, demonstrating good control over the structural flow of an academic essay, justifying a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, using terms such as 'detrimental', 'greenhouse gases', 'global mobility', and 'stringent legislation'. There are occasional slight awkwardness in phrasing, such as 'reducing the number of people flying, or flying in groups', but overall, the vocabulary allows for precision and flexibility. Spelling and word choices are generally accurate and do not impede communication, matching the criteria for a Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer uses a healthy mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating conditional clauses, relative clauses, and participial phrases effectively (e.g., 'When people choose not to fly, there will be job losses...'). There are some minor grammatical errors, such as article use and minor prepositions, but the majority of sentences are clear and correct. Control over punctuation is good, and structures are sufficiently varied to achieve a Band 7.0.

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