Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-18

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 4.5)

INDIVUDUALS DECIDING TO LIMIT THEIR AIR TRAVEL EACH YEAR OR TO STOP TRAVELLING BY AIR TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. IN MY OPINION, ENIVIRONMETAL DEVELOPMENT IS NECESSARY, ALTHOUGH ONLY REDUCING FREQUENT FLY TIME WILL NOT HELP IN ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL LIMIT THE BUSINESSES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH OTHER NATIONS.

TO BEGIN WITH, FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN DIFFERENT CITIES AND COUNTRIES BY REDUCING THE AIR TRAVEL IT WILL BECOME DIFFICULT TO REACH THEM IN PERSON AT TIME OF OCCASION LIKE WEDDINGS, FUNERALS. DURING PENDEMIC OF 2020, FLIGHT OPERATION WAS ALMOST STOPPED. FAMILIES SUFFERED FROM GRIEVED FOR THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO REACHED THEM. IN ADDITION, IT WILL BE TIME CONSUMING TO REACH OTHER CITYS BY ROADS. IT TAKE 2 HOURS TO REACH

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the topic and give a position: you consider environmental action necessary, but argue that reducing flights harms businesses and international social contact. The family examples—missing weddings or funerals and being unable to reach loved ones during the pandemic—are relevant to the disadvantages for individuals. However, the response addresses the question only minimally: it does not explain the environmental benefits, develop the effects on businesses, or clearly weigh benefits against disadvantages to decide which outweighs the other. The final point about road travel is unfinished, and the response is substantially below the required 250 words. To improve, state your comparison directly, then develop both sides with specific explanations and examples before reaching a clear conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening position is followed by a paragraph beginning “TO BEGIN WITH,” and you use “IN ADDITION” to introduce another point. The ideas about family separation and travel time are broadly related, so the reader can follow the general direction. However, the response ends abruptly at “IT TAKE 2 HOURS TO REACH,” leaving the final idea incomplete and preventing a clear overall progression or conclusion. Connections between claims also need explanation—for example, how the pandemic example supports the argument about reducing flights. Use separate paragraphs for environmental benefits, individual and business disadvantages, and your final judgement, with clear links between each point.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “air travel,” “environmental pollution,” “businesses,” and “social interaction,” which helps establish the subject. There are also attempts to express specific situations, such as “weddings” and “funerals.” However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts of the response difficult to understand, including “INDIVUDUALS,” “ENIVIRONMETAL,” “PENDEMIC,” and “grieved.” Some phrases are unnatural or imprecise, such as “environmental development” and “frequent fly time.” Aim to use accurate topic vocabulary and collocations, such as “reduce carbon emissions,” “air travel,” and “international business links.” Proofread spelling and choose words that express your intended meaning precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to use more than simple statements, including a conditional structure in “BY REDUCING THE AIR TRAVEL IT WILL BECOME DIFFICULT” and a sentence beginning “ALTHOUGH.” These attempts show some awareness of linking clauses. However, grammatical errors are frequent, and sentence structures are often incomplete or difficult to follow. For example, “FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN DIFFERENT CITIES AND COUNTRIES BY REDUCING…” joins ideas without a clear grammatical relationship, while “IT TAKE 2 HOURS TO REACH” has incorrect verb agreement and is unfinished. Other examples include “WERE NOT ABLE TO REACHED THEM” and “FAMILIES SUFFERED FROM GRIEVED.” Practise complete sentences, subject–verb agreement, verb forms after “to,” and accurate clause boundaries; then check each sentence for a clear subject and main verb.

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