Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-23

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)

Nowdays, a number of individuals have take decision to decrease their flying hours on every year. I strongly believe that the environmental advantages of this development outshine the drawbacks of people and businesses.

To begin with, decreasing profit is the major drawback to reduce the flying hour for individuals and businesses. If citizens cut down their flying time, it may causes severe effect on airlines industries because it decreases their income. When airlines authorities do not get an adequate number of passengers, maximum of their airplanes seat remmain empty which may cause devastating effect on their business because fuel and utilities cost remain same. As a result, their income will be reduced. However, I do not think this provide a major drawback because by reducing flight number will decrease utilities coast and increase profit.

On the other hand, decreasing green house gasses is the prime merits of reducing flying times. All the airplanes use liquid fuel, such as petrol, diesel and kerosine and after the combustion airplanes emmit green house gasses, like carbon mono-oxide, sulfer and mithen to the environemt. If the flight numbers decline, the amount of green house gasses reduced which will make our environment more helthier. I think that the negetive sides of the flying hour outweighs by the positive sides.

In conclusion, although the disadvatages of reduce the number of fly time is cut the profit, I strongly believe that the positive aspect outweighs its negetive sides because it reduces all the warm grasses and make our planet more cooler.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both sides of the question. The discussion of reduced airline income and greenhouse-gas emissions is relevant. However, the disadvantages are treated mainly as a business issue, with little explanation of how reduced flying affects individuals, and the environmental case is asserted more than developed. For example, you mention emissions but do not explain their wider consequences or support the claim with a specific example. The point that fewer flights could reduce costs and increase profit also needs clarification, as it appears to conflict with the earlier claim about falling income. Develop each side more fully and explain why the environmental gains outweigh the practical costs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for disadvantages and benefits, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “To begin with,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the main stages. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. In the first body paragraph, the shift from reduced airline income to the claim that fewer flights may increase profit is not explained, so the relationship between the ideas is difficult to follow. Some references, including “this” in “I do not think this provide a major drawback,” are also unclear. Use linking expressions to show cause, contrast, and qualification precisely, and make sure each paragraph develops one connected line of reasoning.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt topic-related vocabulary, including “environmental advantages,” “airlines industries,” “combustion,” and “green house gasses,” and the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices, collocations, and spellings are inaccurate or awkward, sometimes making the meaning harder to follow. Examples include “flying hours” for the number of flights, “decreasing profit” where you mean a reduction in profits, and “warm grasses” in the conclusion. There are also repeated forms of “reduce” and “greenhouse gases.” Build a more accurate set of topic phrases and check spelling and collocation carefully; this will make your argument clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and attempts at longer conditional and subordinate structures, such as “If citizens cut down their flying time…” and “because it decreases their income.” This gives the response some variety, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, errors occur in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “individuals have take decision” needs a correctly formed verb and article, while “it may causes” has an incorrect verb form. In “If the flight numbers decline, the amount … reduced,” the main clause is missing a finite verb. The final sentence also has an unclear grammatical relationship between its clauses. Practise accurate basic patterns first, then extend them into complex sentences and proofread each clause for a complete verb.

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