Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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)

There has been an arguement that certain people have decided to stop flying or reduce their fly rate every year. Some people believe it is not a good development. I believe that it's advantages outweigh the disadvantages because it can reduce enviromental pollution and fulfill the fuel requirements anywhere else in the country.

The first main advantage of this decision is that the pollution will be reduced. As the plane fly on fuel, it's engine burns the fuel and emerge smoke in the atmosphere. Which polluted the air and caused the deaths of birds as well as animals. However, if we stuck to this plan strictly it will decrease the pollution caused by plane engines. Consequently, the population of birds and animals will again come to average rate.

The second major benefit is that it will complete the fuel requirements in poor villages and cities. Nowadays, enormous amount of fuel is used in planes and a little amount of fuel is left for other country. However, most of it is given to big and wealthy cities. As a result, few amount of petrol is left, petrol pumps buy it and gives it to the local people at double rate. For example, in recent wars, the petrol prices in our country rise to four time than the amount before war.

However, there is also a disadvantage of this development. It will decrease the economic profits of our country. The money our country is making from planes will decrease. Additionaly, it will also ruin our relationships with other countries.

In conclusion, i will say that the benefits of this decision outweigh the challenges. It can improve the atmosphere and fullfill the fuel requirements of needy people and villages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear in the introduction and conclusion: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. You also address both sides, mentioning reduced pollution and fuel availability as benefits, and lower economic profits and weaker international relationships as drawbacks. However, the response only partially develops the task’s central comparison. The fuel argument is not clearly connected to people flying less, and the claim that reduced flights would restore animal populations needs explanation or evidence. The disadvantages are especially brief: the effects on businesses and individuals are not explored, and “ruin our relationships” is asserted without support. Develop each point with a clear cause-and-effect explanation and a relevant example to make your position more fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, two paragraphs presenting benefits, a paragraph acknowledging disadvantages, and a conclusion. Sequencing is generally easy to follow, and signposts such as “The first main advantage,” “However,” and “In conclusion” help identify the stages of the argument. Cohesion is sometimes mechanical, though, and links between claims are not always clear. For example, the move from reduced flights to fuel being available in poor villages is asserted rather than explained, while “However” introduces a disadvantage after two benefit paragraphs without developing the contrast. Some references, such as “this plan,” are broad. Use more precise links and build each paragraph around one clearly connected point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “environmental pollution,” “economic profits,” “fuel requirements,” and “atmosphere,” so the main ideas can be understood. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the meaning less clear. Examples include “reduce their fly rate,” “emerge smoke,” “average rate” for animal populations, and “complete the fuel requirements.” Spelling errors such as “arguement,” “enviromental,” “Additionaly,” and “fullfill” are also noticeable. Aim for accurate, natural combinations rather than more complicated wording: for instance, describe aircraft as “emitting exhaust” and say that they “meet local fuel demand.” Proofreading spelling and word forms would improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional structure in “if we stuck to this plan strictly it will decrease the pollution” and a subordinate clause beginning “As the plane fly on fuel.” However, complex attempts are often faulty, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to read. For example, “the plane fly” should use a singular verb, while “Which polluted the air” is an incomplete sentence and should be joined to the preceding clause. “The petrol prices … rise to four time” also has tense and number problems. Practise forming complete clauses and checking subject–verb agreement and tense consistency; accurate simple sentences should come before adding complexity.

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