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)

Some people have decided to fly less every year than before or stop flying altogether. I think although it has some drawbacks for individuals and business but the environmental benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

On the one hand, people get benefits by flying. They move anywhere in a short time to go on a trip or spend time with frineds or family or even for business meetings. Using alternative vehicles like buses or trains to travel costs a lot of time rather than using aeroplane. International business will difficulties maintaining a strong relationship or grow their business without face-to-face meeting. For example, international buyers like zara sometimes travel to Bangladesh by air to visit the local factories to see their production status in real time.

One the other hand, using aeroplane frequently can cost a lot of damage in the environment. Aeroplane produce carbon-di-oxcide in the air. If we fly frequently the carbon will damage the air quality and it will damage the environment. So, we should use alternate transportation like buses or trains where the option is available. Using alternate vehicle will help to reduce the carbon in the air and it will help to make a better tomorrow for our future generation by making a good environment.

In the conclusion, I think although it has somes disadvantages to not using the aeroplane but the environmental benefits outweigh the drawbacks. So, we should look for the alternatives of flying for the betterment of our environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both sides of the question. The examples about travel time and international buyers visiting factories are relevant, but the business disadvantage is explained mainly through one example, while the environmental case is broad and would benefit from more specific support, such as how reduced flights lower emissions. The conclusion restates your view but does not add much to the argument. The response is five words below the required minimum, so it does not meet the task’s length requirement. Develop each main point further and ensure the response reaches the required length.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on the disadvantages of flying less, a paragraph on environmental benefits, and a conclusion. This makes the main line of argument easy to follow. You also use signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In the conclusion.” However, some links are mechanical, and the second paragraph begins “One the other hand,” which weakens the transition. Ideas within paragraphs could be connected more clearly: for example, explain how the factory visit supports the point about business relationships. Use a wider range of accurate linking and referencing, and make the progression between claims and examples more explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the central ideas, with relevant terms such as “environmental benefits,” “alternative vehicles,” “carbon,” and “face-to-face meeting.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive. For instance, “Aeroplane produce carbon-di-oxcide” and “costs a lot of damage in the environment” make the environmental point less precise; “maintaining a strong relationship or grow their business” is also awkwardly expressed. Spelling errors such as “frineds” and “oxcide” are noticeable. Aim for more precise topic vocabulary and check spelling and collocations. The suggestions below offer alternatives for some of your repeated or unclear expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in “although it has some drawbacks … the environmental benefits outweigh the drawbacks.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. For example, “International business will difficulties maintaining” is missing a suitable verb construction, while “Aeroplane produce” has a subject–verb agreement error. The opening sentence also has an incomplete contrast structure: “I think although … but …”. There are errors with articles, plurals, and sentence construction in phrases such as “without face-to-face meeting.” Practise building accurate clauses with “although” and “because,” and check agreement and sentence completeness before submitting.

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

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