Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-24

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)

Overall, I believe that the enviromental benefits reducing the number of flights per year are more than the disadvantages for the users and bussinesses.

One of the advantage for the eviroment, for example, could be the carbon emissions are reduced significantly, wich affects in a positive way to the atmosphere, ecosystems health and the develope of lived creatures on the earth.

In the other hand, despite the fact the individuals cannnot assit their job meetings in person, or visit their families when they reduce the number of times they fly, their health and economy can improve. For instance, the last year I spent around 1500 euros traveling from Mexico to The Netherlands, money that in fact I could save if the course I needed to take in person would have been online, besides, my health in general was affected by the jetlack between the countries.

And beyond the negative effects in my sleep routine, also, traveling constantly my plane, as I said, can high the carbon emissions in the air, mainly in the big cities as it's where I live (Mexico City), fact that increases the air pollution and as a consequence, it could affect our respiratory system and our health in general.

However, there are some things that are benefitial when we travel by plane, and can improve our mental health in the current years, for example, when I was abroad I missed my family incredibly much, they are my emotional support, and if i would have had the money at that moment, I would have traveled more often to see them in order to feel emotionally better.

In conclusion, the enviromental benefits reducing the number of times we fly are higher, but in a time like the current one, sometimes that action can bring some social disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you believe reducing flights brings greater environmental benefits, while acknowledging costs to individuals and businesses. You give relevant support, including reduced carbon emissions and your own travel expenses and jet lag. This addresses the question, but the comparison is not fully developed. The business disadvantages are barely explored, and the environmental case is asserted more than explained; for example, you mention effects on ecosystems and health without showing how fewer flights would produce these outcomes. The personal example is useful, but it focuses mainly on one journey and does not establish the broader impact. To strengthen the response, explain specific consequences for businesses, then weigh them directly against the environmental gains.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure, with an opening position, supporting paragraphs, a counterpoint and a conclusion. The ideas are generally relevant, and transitions such as “In the other hand” and “However” signal contrast. However, progression is uneven: the paragraph beginning “And beyond the negative effects” repeats the emissions and health point rather than adding a clearly distinct reason, while the discussion moves between environmental effects and personal experience without always making the relationship explicit. Some linking phrases are awkward or overused, and “also” appears in a sentence where the connection is unclear. Organise each body paragraph around one main point, use clearer references between ideas, and make the comparison in the conclusion follow from the discussion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “carbon emissions,” “air pollution,” “respiratory system” and “emotional support,” which helps communicate the main ideas. There is also an attempt to use more specific language about environmental and personal effects. However, spelling errors and inaccurate word choices are noticeable, including “enviromental,” “benefitial,” “jetlack” and “high the carbon emissions.” Some phrases are also unnatural, such as “the develope of lived creatures” and “traveling constantly my plane,” which make the intended meaning less precise. Build accuracy by checking spelling and learning common collocations for this topic. For example, use “increase emissions” rather than “high emissions,” and “wildlife” or “living organisms” instead of the unclear phrase about creatures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a conditional sentence about taking the course online and clauses introduced by “despite the fact” and “when.” These attempts allow you to express contrast and hypothetical situations, and the main message remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. For example, “One of the advantage … could be the carbon emissions are reduced” has an agreement error and an incomplete connection between clauses; “despite the fact the individuals” needs a grammatical link; and “if I would have had the money” uses an incorrect conditional form. Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention, particularly in the long sentence beginning “And beyond the negative effects.” Practise accurate conditionals, articles and clause construction while retaining varied sentence forms.

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