Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Some people are deciding to reduce the number of flights every year. I completely agree that the environmental benefits outweight the disadvantages of individuals and businesses because aero-planes produce the highest number of carbon emission. Additionally, it reduces travel ticket by planes.

One reason I agree with this idea is that it reduces carbon emission. This is because aeroplanes are responsible for most of the carbon-emission emitted compared to any vehicle around the globe. If people avoid travelling by planes, this reduces carbon emission. Indeed, it helps to promote healthier environment. For example, a single town can avoid travelling by plane for couple of months, it helps to reduce air pollution around the city, increasing the air quality. Consequantly, reducing the number of travel by flight can improve the environment.

Another reason I agree with this idea is that even though airlines may have a disadvantage due to the decrease in the number of flights, the public can buy tickets for lower price. As the demand of flight tickets decrease, the prices also decreases. If tickets are at a lower cost, goods and services can be provided for lower price in regional areas. For example, with the lower price in flight tickets, the government can supply food products to regional areas at a lower cost. Although there is a disadvantage for individuals and businesses, the reduction in the cost of flights can be used for good purpose.

In conclusion, I completely agree with this idea because it promotes environmental safety. Despite the disadvantage that airlines businesses might be less profitable, the reduction of flight tickets have better consequences like cheaper goods and services.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you agree that reducing flights brings greater environmental benefits, and you give reasons about emissions and lower ticket prices. These points are relevant, but the response only partly addresses the comparison in the question. The environmental case is explained more fully, while the disadvantages for individuals and businesses receive little attention beyond noting that airlines may be less profitable. The claim that fewer flights will lower ticket prices is also not clearly supported, since reduced supply could affect prices differently; the example about cheaper goods supplied to regional areas needs a clearer link. Develop both sides and explain why the environmental gains outweigh the specific costs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs organised around separate reasons, and a conclusion that restates your position. Linking phrases such as “One reason,” “Another reason,” “For example,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the argument. However, some connections are mechanical, and the reasoning within paragraphs does not always progress smoothly. For instance, the move from lower ticket prices to cheaper goods and government food supplies needs an explicit explanation. The example about a town avoiding flights is also unclear because a town itself does not travel. Use more precise references and show how each example supports the point before moving to the next claim.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “carbon emission,” “air pollution,” “air quality,” “demand,” and “regional areas,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling errors reduce precision. Examples include “outweight,” “Consequantly,” “carbon-emission emitted,” and “the reduction of flight tickets,” which is not a natural way to describe lower fares. Repetition of “reduce,” “lower price,” and “flight” also makes the argument less varied. Build a more accurate set of expressions for emissions, air travel, fares, and business impacts, and check spelling and word forms when editing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional and concessive structures such as “If people avoid travelling by planes…” and “Although there is a disadvantage…”. This gives the response some variety, and the overall meaning is usually clear. However, errors in agreement, articles, plurals, and sentence construction remain noticeable. For example, “the prices also decreases” should use a plural verb, while “for couple of months” needs an article. The sentence beginning “For example, a single town can avoid travelling…” is awkwardly joined to its result and would be clearer as two sentences or with a suitable conjunction. Review subject–verb agreement and make sure each clause is grammatically complete.

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

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