Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-25

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)

Few people have decided to minimize either the times they fly each year nor stop flying .I strongly believe that environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages for businesses and individuals from this kind of development .

There is positive impact on environment from this kind of evolution . Flights usually travel from one country to other destination .But before this , flights need to take off to fly in the air , and runways are required . Tires are needed for flights to run on these paths . These tyres are mostly like one time use , as it tears away easily while landing or taking off as it handles lot of pressure .These tyres are often made of rubber and trees are the main source . So manufactering a tyre follows lot of deforestation method , harming the biodiversity .Not only leading to harm of ecosystem , it also has effect on human beings .For instancel, a town in Tamilnadu state reported with breathing issues for older adults due to gases released from rubber manufactering factories .

Another reason is , huge business organizations make substantial profits by hiking prices during holiday seasons , which is an unnecessary burden for citizens .Despite of providing extra features , unusual jump of price does'nt make any sense , and its simply the burden for the travellers , making a critical financial situation for students who are studying abroad .

There are many cases where individuals in situation unable to travel hometown even during holidays .

To conclude ,there might be arguments regarding demerits outweighing merits , but I strongly believe that advantage of the given statement outweighs disadvantage .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You state a clear position in the introduction and conclusion: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages. However, the response only partially answers the comparison in the question. The environmental paragraph focuses mainly on tyre production and deforestation, rather than explaining how reducing flights affects emissions or other environmental impacts. The example about breathing problems near rubber factories is relevant to manufacturing pollution but its connection to fewer flights is not made clear. The disadvantages paragraph discusses high holiday prices and students’ travel difficulties, but does not explain the wider effects on businesses. To strengthen the response, address both individuals and businesses directly, and develop a more convincing comparison using specific, clearly linked reasons and examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the main position is easy to identify. Basic linking expressions such as “Another reason” and “To conclude” help signal the stages of the argument. However, progression within the paragraphs is not always clear: the discussion moves from flights and runways to tyres, deforestation and factory pollution without fully explaining the links to reduced flying. Some connections are also awkward or repetitive, including “Not only leading to harm of ecosystem” and the repeated use of “this kind of.” Improve cohesion by organising each paragraph around one central claim, then explaining and illustrating it in a clear sequence. Use referencing and transitions to show how each example supports the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt some topic-related and less common vocabulary, including “biodiversity,” “substantial profits,” “unnecessary burden” and “financial situation.” These choices show an effort to discuss environmental and economic effects. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “minimize the times,” “one time use,” “hiking prices” and “unusual jump of price.” Spelling errors, including “manufactering” and “instancel,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise expressions that fit the topic, and check spelling carefully. For example, explain the environmental effect using terms such as aviation emissions, rather than relying on a loosely connected manufacturing example.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple statements and some attempts at longer structures, such as “Despite of providing extra features, unusual jump of price does'nt make any sense.” However, complex sentences are often incomplete or difficult to follow, as in “Not only leading to harm of ecosystem, it also has effect on human beings.” There are frequent errors in articles, agreement, verb forms and sentence boundaries: “There is positive impact” needs an article, while “it tears away” does not agree naturally with the plural “tyres.” Punctuation spacing and sentence separation are also inconsistent. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and review articles, plural agreement and punctuation. This will make your reasoning easier to understand.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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