Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-26

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, with the advent of different technologies the threat to the environment is increasing day-by-day. Most people have reduced the use of this technology like as in the the statement it is stated that people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether. However, there are both pros and cons to deciding to do this. In this essay, I will discuss some of the reason for this adoption of declining the flying altogether and some of the challenges to overcome.

Let's begin by looking at the advantages of this decline in number of flights took by people. One of the advantage of this is the environmental benefit. A significant portion of environment is affected from all the gases that are released in the enviornment. Consequently, if people do less travelling by air they will eventually be saving their environment in a way. Another advantage of these reduced flights will result in lowering the consumption of the kerosene oil which is very expensive form of oil.

On the other hand, one the the major sector which will be affected from this development will be the indivifuals and business people who have to travel often for their work purposes. For example, if a person has back-to-back meetings in different countries and there is no direct flight due to the unavailability of much people he may have to take a connecting flight increasing his burden.

In conclusion, although some people have decided to reduce the number of their flights or take no flight at all. I believe that a peron always travels by his need so this reduction in number of flights will ultimately take him more time than usual. Therefore, the diadvantages of this development are more than its advantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You present a clear overall view in the conclusion: you believe the disadvantages outweigh the environmental benefits. You also identify relevant points, including reduced emissions and kerosene use, alongside travel difficulties for people with work commitments. However, the response only partially addresses the comparison in the question. The environmental benefits are asserted rather than explained, and the disadvantages focus mainly on one hypothetical business-travel situation, without showing how businesses more broadly are affected. The introduction promises to discuss “some of the challenges to overcome,” which does not clearly match the task. Develop both sides with specific reasoning and examples, then explain directly why one side outweighs the other. (The response meets the length requirement; 27 words copied from the prompt were excluded from the count.)

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, a paragraph on benefits, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the other hand” helps show the shift between sides, and the conclusion returns to the central issue. However, progression within paragraphs is limited: the environmental paragraph moves from emissions to kerosene consumption without explaining how these points support the overall comparison. Some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “advantage” and “development,” and the final paragraph introduces the idea that travel takes more time without clearly connecting it to the earlier example. Use clearer links between each claim and its consequence, and organise the conclusion around a direct weighing of the two sides.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “environmental benefit,” “gases,” “consumption,” and “connecting flight,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are inaccurate or awkward, which makes parts of the response less clear. For example, “Most people have reduced the use of this technology” does not express the idea of reducing air travel, while “declining the flying altogether” is unnatural. There are also spelling errors such as “enviornment,” “indivifuals,” and “diadvantages.” Aim for precise collocations and check spelling carefully; using terms such as “air travel,” “carbon emissions,” and “business travel” would make the discussion more natural and specific.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a conditional example beginning “if a person has back-to-back meetings” and a concluding sentence with “although.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur often enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “some of the reason” instead of a plural form, “One of the advantage,” and “if people do less travelling by air they will eventually be saving,” where the verb construction is awkward. The opening also contains a confusing sentence structure, and punctuation is missing after the introductory conditional clause. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles and plurals, and build complex sentences around one clear main clause.

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