Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-15

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 6.0)

Many individuals have decided to reduce the number of flights they take each year or stop flying altogether. I believe the environmental benefits of this trend clearly outweigh the disadvantages for people and businesses.

The less people use airplanes, the less greenhouse gases will affect our environment, as the jet fuel when burnt produces carbon emissions that impact our environment. For instance, when people use their private jets for themselves and businesses, the carbon emissions affect the environment. One person's private jet emits almost as many greenhouse gases than an airplane that takes around 250 or more passengers. The same business deal could happen online. Individuals can book business class in airplanes and can still travel without using their own airplanes. The less their airplanes emit greenhouse gases, the more our ozone layer will survive. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages of individuals, as the less they fly benefits the environment, which then subsequently helps a lot of people.

One disadvantage for people who reduce or stop flying is that they may rigidly stick to their decision, even during an emergency. Sometimes it is important to be present at a business deal, or some businesses require you to travel a lot. Some businesses help a lot of people and need constant travel. Without that, a lot of people could be badly affected by a decision of a single entity. One cannot decide not to travel for the sake of the environment, and as a result, his workers and business suffer. In these scenarios, you either try to book a commercial flight or sometimes on your own jet. Sometimes you have to think about your own colleagues and workers before the environment.

In conclusion, I do believe that people traveling less than before helps a lot of people, as the less greenhouse gases released into nature, the less the ozone layer is affected and more people are saved from ultraviolet radiations. On the other hand, sometimes by doing so, not only we hurt our business but also the people connected through it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear from the introduction: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. You address both sides, explaining that fewer flights reduce emissions and that reduced travel can affect businesses and workers. However, some points are not fully developed or are unclear. For example, the claim that one private jet emits nearly as much as a large passenger aircraft needs support or qualification, and the discussion of the ozone layer and ultraviolet radiation does not clearly explain the main climate impact of aviation. The disadvantages are also presented mainly as a risk of refusing to travel in emergencies, rather than weighing the broader effects on individuals and businesses. Develop each point with a precise example and make the comparison between benefits and costs more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for environmental benefits and disadvantages, and a conclusion that restates your view. The progression from reduced flying to emissions, and then to business travel needs, is generally understandable. However, some connections are repetitive or mechanical: “The less…” appears several times, and the conclusion repeats ideas from the first body paragraph rather than drawing the comparison together. References such as “that” in “Without that” are not fully clear, and the shift from private jets to commercial flights could be signposted more smoothly. Use a wider range of linking expressions and make each paragraph’s central point and supporting example connect more explicitly.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “greenhouse gases,” “carbon emissions,” “business deal,” and “commercial flight,” which makes the subject clear. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “rigidly stick to their decision.” Some word choices and collocations are imprecise, however: “the less greenhouse gases will affect our environment” does not express the intended relationship naturally, and “the ozone layer will survive” is not an accurate or idiomatic way to describe environmental protection. “Ultraviolet radiations” is also an awkward phrase in this context. Aim for precise terms such as “reduce aviation emissions” and distinguish climate change from ozone depletion. This would make your argument more convincing and your vocabulary more controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “Sometimes it is important to be present at a business deal” and the longer sentence beginning “One cannot decide not to travel…”. Most of the meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “The less people use airplanes” should be “The fewer people use airplanes,” and “emits almost as many greenhouse gases than” needs “as” rather than “than.” The conclusion’s “not only we hurt our business but also the people” has incorrect word order; use “we hurt not only our business but also the people connected to it.” Review comparative structures, agreement, and word order, while continuing to use varied sentence patterns.

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