Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-01

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)

Some individuals have decided to stop flying or reduce the number of flights taken each year. Some people believe this decision will have ecological benefits, as less fuel will be burned; however, others argue that it might have more disadvantages, as other transportation methods might increase carbon emissions. I strongly believe the disadvantages of such development might exceed the advantages for individuals and enterprises.

Firstly, for long journeys across the globe, air travel is the most appropriate option as it covers long distances in a shorter duration. However, if we completely boycott it, then other transport vehicles such as trains and buses might consume even more fuel. Therefore, it will take days to travel from one country to another. The more fuel is burnt, the more carbon dioxide is released into the air, resulting in air pollution. Eventually, it affects the air quality that we breathe in and damages the ozone layer. However, airplanes use a comparatively smaller amount of fuel and cover longer distances more efficiently. Additionally, the less demand for fuel, the longer our natural fuel resources (coal, fossil fuels, etc.) will last.

For businesses, it will be a huge loss to deal with. If people stop travelling by plane, airlines won't be able to generate the large revenue that is based on ticket purchases. As the number of air travellers will be reduced, the plane will have more empty seats, which would affect the profitability ratio. As a result, airlines won't be able to cover the maintenance costs, staff salaries, and other services. Additionally, it might result in job losses for pilots and cabin crews, etc.

Hence, the decision to reduce or stop air travel has more cons than pros. Using alternative transportation might consume more fuel than flying and will add to carbon emissions. Similarly, the airlines will also suffer in terms of revenue, maintenance, and employment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout, stating that the disadvantages of reducing air travel outweigh the advantages. Relevant ideas are introduced, but some are under-developed. For instance, the argument in the second paragraph regarding alternative transport methods consuming more fuel and releasing more carbon dioxide lacks adequate supporting evidence or examples from real-world contexts. While the economic impact on businesses and airlines is explored, the explanation tends to generalise rather than fully extend the reasoning with specific details. This keeps the response at the level where all requirements are met adequately, but deeper exploration and more thorough support for each main point are needed to reach the next tier.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear progression of ideas from the introduction through body paragraphs to a logical conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct themes, such as the environmental perspective in the second paragraph and the business impact in the third. However, some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'Additionally' and 'However'. Furthermore, referencing is occasionally repetitive, which prevents the essay from achieving a more fluid logical flow. Overall, the structural framework is clear and guides the reader successfully through the writer's argument, satisfying the criteria for this level while showing partial strengths of higher organisation.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as 'profitability ratio', 'ecological benefits', and 'revenue'. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'deal with a huge loss' or 'the less demand for fuel' instead of 'lower demand'. However, these minor lexical slips do not impede communication. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate. To move beyond this level, the writer should incorporate a wider variety of sophisticated, less common vocabulary with greater precision in collocation and natural styling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, successfully employing structures such as conditional forms and comparative constructions like 'The more fuel is burnt, the more carbon dioxide is released'. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, such as missing articles ('the plane will have more empty seats' when discussing airlines generally) and slight prepositional inaccuracies. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede communication, allowing the reader to follow the arguments with ease. The control over grammar shows a solid foundation, fulfilling the requirements of this band while laying the groundwork for more advanced structural variety.

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