Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-14

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)

It is widely argued that some people have decided to travel on flights every year or not taking anymore. This essay agrees with the statement that this development has more environmental advantages than demerits for individuals and businesses because it reduces the cause of global warming which has no alternative solution and that makes earth healthy.

On the one hand, When people take more flights, aviation releases more carbon dioxide which is the main reason for global warming. It affects on individuals health because people will not breathe clean oxygen, this will lead them towards numerous diseases. For example, a person who returns from London to NewYork by aeroplane, it will release 1 tonne of carbondioxide. This development provides healthy atmosphere, as it will reduce deforestation and make green environment which is better inhabitant lives.

Although it provides benefits to the environment, the individuals and businesses suffer from it which can be resolved with other thing. Few flights will hinder the trading of businesses because they export their products, meeting with the foreign clients and attending the conferences. This will become a pressing issue for them how to run the businesses. As individuals who want to meet with their loved ones who lives abroad, they will not be able to meet with them. These are not the major problems because video conferencing makes easier for businesses to attend the meetings. People can also launch fast trains such as Evee which will make easier for people to meet with their relatives in a short time.

In conclusion, Although it has disadvantages to businesses and individuals, I believe environment plays a significant role because less flights protect the atmosphere as it saves the earth from global warming.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both sides of the question and state a clear view: reducing flights is worthwhile because of its environmental benefits. The discussion of aviation emissions and the disadvantages for businesses and families is relevant, and the examples of video conferencing and faster trains help show how some impacts could be reduced. However, the environmental case is not fully developed: the claim that fewer flights “reduce deforestation” is not explained, and the London–New York emissions example is presented without showing how it supports the comparison of benefits and disadvantages. The business and family impacts are identified but receive limited explanation. Develop the weighing more explicitly by explaining why the environmental gains are more significant than these costs, and support each main point with a clear, accurate explanation or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for environmental benefits and disadvantages, and a conclusion that restates your position. This makes the main line of argument easy to follow. You also use signposting such as “On the one hand,” “Although,” and “In conclusion.” At times, however, connections between ideas are unclear or mechanical. For example, “This development provides healthy atmosphere” follows the discussion of health effects but does not clearly explain the link, while “which can be resolved with other thing” introduces the counterargument imprecisely. Some sentences also combine several points without clear progression. Use more precise links between cause and effect, and organise each body paragraph around one main claim followed by explanation and evidence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “carbon dioxide,” “global warming,” “trading,” “foreign clients,” and “video conferencing,” so the reader can understand the subject and your main ideas. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “pressing issue.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “not taking anymore,” “affects on individuals health,” “healthy atmosphere,” and “better inhabitant lives.” Spelling and form errors such as “carbondioxide” and “NewYork” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural combinations and precise forms—for example, “stop flying,” “affects individuals’ health,” and “a healthier environment.” This would make your argument clearer and more fluent without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a reason clause in the introduction and a concessive structure beginning “Although it provides benefits.” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors occur across the response. Examples include “some people have decided to travel on flights every year or not taking anymore,” where the verb forms are not parallel, and “a person … it will release,” where the subject reference is unclear. There are also agreement and article errors in “their loved ones who lives abroad” and “provides healthy atmosphere,” as well as punctuation problems after “On the one hand” and “In conclusion.” Practise parallel structures, subject–verb agreement, and sentence boundaries, then proofread for articles and punctuation.

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