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)
In an era of growing climate awarness, many individuals choose to fly less or or stop flying altogether, Aiming to reduce the environmental damage. While this bring challenges to businesses and individuals, from my perespective its envirmental benefits outweigh the drwabacks.
On the one hand, one major advantage of reducing air travel it help to decrease environmental pollution. Aeroplane produce a significant amount of carbon dioxide, which contributs to climate change. If fewer people fly, the demand for filghts may fall, leading to lower emission from the aviaton. In addition, people may choose alternative way for friendly evironment they can travel by bus, train or by car for shorter journey. This could reduce the overaal carbon footprint for transportation. For example, a person travelling to nearby urban areas may choose other transit intead of using flying service.
On the other hand, this development can create some disadvantags for individuals and businesses. Firstly, for individuals flying is the fastest and more convient way to travel, some people worked in a different cities or country reduciing it could be difficult for them. For example, a person need to visit his family once or twice a month who live aborad or take international trips. Secondly, businesses could also be effected because they usually depend on air travel for meetings. For instance, businessman need to attend conference or meeting with clients, consquently, reducing business flights limit some oppourtunity for trade with internationl companies.
In conclusion, However, reducing flights could effect individuals and businesses becuase they want to attend meeting or gathering with their familes but this not vital. From my perespective, reducing flight is essential becuase it is beneficial for environment and for upcoming generations.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both sides of the issue (environmental benefits versus disadvantages for individuals and businesses) and clearly states a personal position in the introduction and conclusion ("its envirmental benefits outweigh the drwabacks"). The ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations, such as the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and the impact on business meetings and visiting family abroad. While some explanations lean towards generalization, the main arguments are adequately developed and fulfill the task requirements successfully, aligning well with the Band 6.5 to 7.0 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into four paragraphs, featuring clear introductions, body paragraphs for each side of the argument, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader through the text, such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," and "In conclusion." However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty, as seen in the slightly disjointed concluding sentence ("In conclusion, However, reducing flights could effect...") and some minor issues with referencing and transition flow. Overall paragraphing is used appropriately.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, attempting less common terms such as "carbon footprint," "alternative way," and "international companies." However, there are numerous spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including "awarness" (awareness), "perespective" (perspective), "drwabacks" (drawbacks), "contributs" (contributes), "filghts" (flights), "aviaton" (aviation), "evironment" (environment), "overaal" (overall), "intead" (instead), "disadvantags" (disadvantages), "convient" (convenient), "effect" instead of affect, "consquently" (consequently), and "oppourtunity" (opportunity). While communication remains clear, these frequent lexical errors place the response firmly in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating conditional clauses ("If fewer people fly, the demand...") and relative structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ("Aeroplane produce", "a person need"), incorrect prepositions or missing words, and punctuation errors. For instance, the opening sentence contains a run-on structure and double conjunction ("fly less or or stop"). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from achieving a Band 6.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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