Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Some individuals have decided to reduce the number of times they travel by air or to stop flying entirely. In my opinion, I believe the environmental benefits of this decision outweigh the effect on individuals and businesses because frequent air travel causes air pollution.
It is true that transportation by air is faster and more comfortable, but it has some negative effects on our environment. Aircraft use biofuel for combustion, which releases toxic gases into the air, thereby polluting the air we breathe. When we inhale these gases, it poses a threat to human health by affecting the airways and the breathing system. Another negative effect is carbon emission, these are released into the air, therefore making the air full of impurities that are harmful to human health. However, with a reduction in the number of times we fly, our air environment can become pure again.
On the other hand, this decision will affect individuals, because the other means of transportation will make trips longer, more uncomfortable, and more boring. Also, the risk of car accidents will increase because more people will be travelling by road. On businesses, it will reduce income and also become more expensive, because the number of people flying has reduced, and in order to meet expenses, the prices will increase. Although, these challenges are significant, they are not as important as human health, which will be conserved if we limit the rate at which we travel by air. Moreover, there are other sources of income.
In conclusion, I agree that the environmental benefits outweigh the negative impacts on people and business because of the detrimental effects of toxic gases on human beings.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout the response. The introduction states the writer's opinion clearly, and the body paragraphs discuss both the environmental benefits and the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. Ideas are relevant, but some points remain somewhat general or under-developed, such as the claim that aircraft use biofuel for combustion, which reflects a minor factual or terminology inaccuracy. Nevertheless, the main arguments are well-supported, and the conclusion succinctly reiterates the stance. This performance aligns closely with the Band 6.0 descriptors, where all parts of the task are addressed, though some ideas lack deeper extension.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response features a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, separating the introduction, the environmental discussion, the counter-arguments regarding individuals and businesses, and the conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader, with transition markers such as 'It is true that', 'Another negative effect is', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, some cohesive links feel slightly mechanical, and referencing is occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent reliance on 'air' and 'this decision'. Overall, the logical progression is clear, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'environment', 'transportation', 'detrimental effects', and 'carbon emission'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though accompanied by slight inaccuracies or awkward collocations, such as 'our air environment can become pure again'. Spelling is generally accurate, and word choice errors do not impede communication, making this a solid fit for the Band 6.0 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms throughout the essay, incorporating relative clauses and conditional structures such as 'When we inhale these gases, it poses a threat' and 'although these challenges are significant, they are not as important as...'. There are some grammatical errors and awkward punctuation, notably a comma splice in 'carbon emission, these are released into the air'. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede overall communication, supporting a Band 6.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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