Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-20

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 5.0)

Nowadays many people are choosing to fly less frequently or stop travelling by air completely to protect the environment. Although this decision can create some difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantage.

One the other hand, reducing air travel can have some disadvantages for individuals and businesses. Firstly, people may find it difficult to visit family members who lived in others countries. Air travel often the fastest and most convenient way to travel long distance. Secondly, business may face problems because international meeting and business trips became more difficult. For instance, companies that depend on foreign customers may loss some business opportunities if their employees cannot travel easily. Moreover, the tourism industry may suffer because fewer tourist could lower incomes for hotels, restaurants and airlines.

One the other hand, reducing

In conclusion, although flying less can cause difficulties for individuals and business, I beleive its environmental benefits are more important. Reducing air travel can help lower carbon emissions and protect the plant for future generations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You state a clear position in the introduction and conclusion: despite some costs, you believe the environmental benefits are more important. The disadvantages are relevant and include family visits, business travel and tourism. However, the response does not fully address the question because the environmental benefits are only briefly asserted in the conclusion (“lower carbon emissions”) and are not explained or supported with examples. The second body paragraph is also cut off after “One the other hand, reducing”, leaving the main argument undeveloped. The response is 78 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to develop both sides. To strengthen the response, explain how reduced flying benefits the climate and support this with a specific example, while developing your comparison of benefits and disadvantages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting disadvantages, and a conclusion that restates your view. Sequencing within the disadvantages paragraph is generally clear, with “Firstly”, “Secondly” and “Moreover” guiding the reader through separate points. However, the second body paragraph begins with “One the other hand, reducing” and then stops, so the central argument has no coherent development. The phrase “One the other hand” is also repeated, and the conclusion arrives abruptly after the incomplete paragraph. Build a complete paragraph for the environmental benefits, use a contrasting linker such as “By contrast” only where needed, and ensure each paragraph develops one main idea before moving to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main points, including “environment”, “carbon emissions”, “international meeting” and “business opportunities”. There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “depend on foreign customers” and “tourism industry”. However, the range is limited, and some word choices or forms are inaccurate: “others countries”, “business may face problems”, “may loss” and “fewer tourist” reduce precision. “Protect the plant” appears to be an incorrect word choice for the intended environmental meaning. Aim to use more precise terms for environmental impacts and travel-related costs, and check plural forms and word forms when editing. These improvements would make your ideas clearer and more natural without changing your overall argument.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms. For example, the opening sentence uses a purpose phrase (“to protect the environment”), and the introduction includes a concession with “Although”. Most sentences remain understandable, but errors in agreement, verb forms and sentence construction are evident. In “people who lived in others countries”, the tense and clause structure are not appropriate for a general point; “Air travel often the fastest” is missing a verb; and “companies … may loss” uses an incorrect verb form after “may”. The unfinished sentence in the second body paragraph also leaves the structure incomplete. Practise checking that each sentence has a complete subject and verb, and review modal patterns (“may” + base verb) and consistent present-tense forms for general claims.

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