Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 5.0)

Few individuals have planned to reduce the percentage of trips to other countries or to stop flying altogether. In this way, people have thought of reducing air pollution in the air. In this essay, we will discuss both points: its benefits for environmental development and what causes problems for individuals and businesses.

On the one hand, it can have a lot of benefits in reducing the number of people who travel by flight because flights can consume a lot of petrol and have a pollution in the air; it is very dangerous for the ozone layer because smoke can disturb it very badly. For example, last year my family and I went to Lahore, a city in Pakistan, to meet some relatives because of the marriage ceremony of my younger sister. She is my cousin, but I called her sister because I did not have any sisters. The area of Lahore has a very bad atmosphere because it is near Iqbal International Airport and has a lot of traffic congestion.

On the other hand, it is beneficial for the environment, but it has a lot of loss for people who are well settled in other countries because it was hard work in other countries to achieve their goals. For example, the young generation has a dream to go to another country and work hard for their future. It can stop trade to many countries and stop the food chain every things are stuck in their own country. For example, in the past few months, a war has been started between the USA and Iran; there is no trade because Iran is famous for its petrol industry, and the prices of petrol are increasing.

In my opinion, to use the latest technology in flights to reduce environmental pollution and not disturb the trade system.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address the broad topic by discussing environmental effects and possible consequences for people and businesses, and your final sentence gives a position: flights should use newer technology rather than disrupt trade. However, the response only partially answers the key question of whether the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The environmental case is mainly about fuel use, pollution and the ozone layer, while the disadvantages are not clearly tied to reduced flying; the example about working abroad and the USA–Iran trade situation does not establish how fewer flights would cause these effects. The Lahore anecdote also takes space without clearly supporting the comparison. To strengthen the response, state directly which side outweighs the other and develop relevant, specific reasons for both sides.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs signposted with “On the one hand” and “On the other hand,” and a concluding opinion. This gives the reader a basic framework. However, progression within the paragraphs is uneven: the Lahore family story shifts into details about your cousin that do not advance the argument, and the second body paragraph moves from migration to trade and then to a conflict without explaining the links. Some connections are also unclear, such as “it” in “it has a lot of loss” and “every things are stuck in their own country.” Use topic sentences that state one main point, then explain and support it in a logical sequence. Clearer referencing and fewer abrupt shifts would make the argument easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “air pollution,” “ozone layer,” “traffic congestion,” “trade” and “petrol industry,” so the reader can identify the subject of the essay. However, the range is limited and several choices or combinations are inaccurate or imprecise, which sometimes makes the intended meaning difficult to follow. For example, “reduce the percentage of trips” is not a natural way to describe flying less, and “a lot of loss for people” does not clearly express the disadvantage. “Food chain” also appears to be the wrong term for the trade system you mean. Aim for precise, natural collocations and avoid repeating general phrases such as “a lot.” The suggestions below offer more suitable alternatives for this topic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “because” and “who,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, the range is limited, and errors recur in sentence construction, articles, agreement and punctuation. For instance, “flights can consume a lot of petrol and have a pollution” has an incorrect article and an awkward structure; “every things are stuck” has an agreement and form problem; and the long sentence beginning “It can stop trade” joins several ideas without clear punctuation. The opening “Few individuals have planned” also uses a tense that does not fit the general trend being discussed. Practise building accurate complex sentences and separating distinct claims with full stops or appropriate conjunctions.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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