Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-13

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 recent years, some people have been going to decrease the number of flights or stop them. It is a huge benefit to the environment, which also outweighs the disadvantages for individuals and businesses. This essay discusses the reasons behind this trend before leading to a conclusion.

On the one hand, the first and most important advantage of this trend is the reduction in air pollution. For instance, as the number of passenger flights decreases, the pollution generated by aircraft is reduced. Secondly, the consumption of fuel is also reduced. As a result, the price of fuel decreases because of the availability of fuel. Furthermore, the prices of the flights are also reduced. As a result, normal people can take flights for work.

On the other hand, there are disadvantages of this trend; the first of them is that the airlines are going at a loss. For instance, people reduce, then flights reduce, which is a direct loss to companies. As a result, the GDP of the countries is also affected by a decrease in companies profits. Another disadvantage of this trend is that many employees of the airline companies are laid off. As a result, there is an increase in unemployment. For example, extra pilots, helpers, receptionists, and many others are fired due to this trend.

In conclusion, after looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the aforementioned trend, one can conclude that it is not good for some people but beneficial for the whole environment and for all people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and you discuss both sides with relevant points such as reduced aircraft pollution, airline losses and job cuts. However, the response only partly develops the task: the environmental case is mainly asserted, while the disadvantages for individuals are not clearly explained. The claim that lower fuel use will reduce fuel and flight prices is also not convincingly connected to fewer flights, and the conclusion’s statement that the trend benefits “all people” is broader than the evidence provided. To strengthen the response, explain how reduced flying benefits the environment and weigh those gains directly against specific effects on travellers and businesses, using developed examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. Sequencing is generally easy to follow, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers identify each stage. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical because “As a result” is repeated, and the first body paragraph moves from reduced pollution to fuel prices and then to access to flights without fully explaining the links. The phrase “people reduce, then flights reduce” is also unclear as a connection between ideas. Use a wider range of linking methods and make each cause-and-effect relationship explicit so the argument progresses more smoothly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main ideas, with relevant terms such as “air pollution,” “consumption of fuel,” “GDP,” and “unemployment.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, which keeps the discussion from expressing ideas precisely. For example, “going to decrease the number of flights” is an awkward way to describe a current trend, while “airlines are going at a loss” and “people reduce” are unclear formulations. “Helpers” is also too vague for the airline jobs you mean. Aim for more accurate collocations and specific terms, and avoid repeating general words such as “trend,” “disadvantage,” and “result.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple sentences and some longer structures, including “As a result, the GDP of the countries is also affected by a decrease in companies profits.” Most sentences are understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward constructions remain. For example, “some people have been going to decrease” uses an unsuitable verb form, and “people reduce, then flights reduce” lacks a clear grammatical relationship between its clauses. In “companies profits,” the possessive form is missing, and “the first of them is that” is an awkward construction. Practise forming accurate complex sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check possessives, articles and clause connections during revision.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.