Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-30
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 7.5)
In recent years, the growing awareness of climate change has prompted a cultural shift, with some individuals choosing to fly less frequently or abandon air travel altogether. While this trend delivers meaningful ecological advantages, it simultaneously imposes significant drawbacks on personal mobility and global commerce. Evaluating these competing factors reveals a complex dilemma with no simple consensus.
On the one hand, the environmental benefits of reducing air travel are substantial and immediate. Commercial aviation is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, releasing millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other pollutants annually. When individuals cut back on flights, their personal carbon footprint decreases significantly. Furthermore, lower demand for air transport can pressure airlines to optimize routes and invest more aggressively in sustainable aviation fuels and greener technologies, accelerating the industry's transition toward net-zero targets.
On the other hand, the disadvantages for individuals and businesses are profound. For commerce, aviation is the lifeblood of international trade, tourism, and foreign investment. Reduced flying can hinder face-to-face negotiations, limit market expansion, and severely damage the hospitality sector, which relies heavily on global travelers. At an individual level, cutting out flights restricts cultural exchange, limits educational opportunities abroad, and makes visiting distant family members difficult or impossible. For regions heavily dependent on tourism, a decline in air arrivals can devastate local economies and threaten livelihoods.
In conclusion, while the ecological urgency of reducing aviation emissions is undeniable, the economic and social costs are too high to ignore. Rather than stopping travel altogether, a more balanced approach—such as investing in carbon offset programs, improving high-speed rail networks as viable alternatives, and developing zero-emission aircraft offers a more sustainable path forward that protects both the planet and global connectivity.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. The position is clear throughout, established in the introduction and maintained in the conclusion. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations, such as mentioning greenhouse gas emissions for the environmental side and international trade and tourism for the business side. The arguments are extended logically without major omissions. Therefore, this performance meets the criteria for Band 8.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally throughout the essay. The response utilizes paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately, dedicating distinct paragraphs to the introduction, environmental benefits, disadvantages, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are managed well to guide the reader through the argumentation. Paragraph transitions are smooth and referencing is clear, which aligns well with the Band 8 descriptors.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic context. Less common lexical items are used skilfully, including phrases like 'cultural shift', 'ecological advantages', 'personal carbon footprint', and 'hospitality sector'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate and natural, with only rare minor inappropriacies. The vocabulary allows for precise conveyance of complex ideas, supporting a strong Band 8 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The essay displays a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and complex forms like participle clauses and conditional structures are handled competently, as seen in 'When individuals cut back on flights, their personal carbon footprint decreases significantly.' Punctuation and grammar show strong control, with only very occasional minor slips that do not impede communication. This performance fits comfortably into the Band 8 category.
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