Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-27

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 6.0)

It is widely acknowledged by a few individuals to minimise travel by air or to cease flying altogether. Although this trend would have enormous benefits, I believe the financial setbacks of individuals and commercial airlines can far outweigh the benefits.

On the one hand, the advantages of decreasing air travel can be helpful in lessening the impact on the environment, particularly reducing air and noise pollution. To be precise, frequent travel by visitors causes more harmful emissions in the air. Increasing carbon footprints and nuisances can lead to harmful diseases related to breathing and hearing, such as asthma and deafness. For instance, countries, who have set up airbase near the residential region, the people of those areas are frustrated and more prone torisks. Hence, if people decline to travel by air, this will protect not only the ecosystem but also human well-being.

Despite numerous advantages of ceasing air travel, the drawbacks of this situation are far greater. Firstly, the adverse effects on airlines' finances. Their income will be reduced substantially due to large number of decline in air tickets. Furthermore, people who travel to foreign countries for their business prospects will lose their business deals and suffer economically. In addition to this, shipment by air is the fastest medium for individuals. If they abandon this method also, they will also suffer.

In conclusion, while travelling by aeroplane can be environmentally friendly and protect human beings from several disorders, I still argue that ceasing air travel altogether could have long-term negative impacts on business and individuals to run the economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both sides of the question and state a clear position: you accept environmental benefits but argue that the financial effects on individuals and airlines outweigh them. The discussion of emissions and noise, followed by airline income and business travel, is relevant. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained. For example, the link between fewer flights and reduced asthma or deafness is not supported with clear reasoning, and the point about air shipment is introduced without explaining its importance to individuals or businesses. The conclusion repeats your position but does not weigh the competing effects in detail. Develop fewer points more fully, using specific examples and a clearer comparison of the scale of environmental gains and economic costs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental benefits, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a conclusion. The contrast between the two main arguments is easy to follow, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “Despite,” and “In conclusion” help guide the reader. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent organisation and shows some of the clearer progression associated with a stronger performance. However, connections within paragraphs are sometimes mechanical, and the sequence of ideas in the disadvantages paragraph is not fully developed: airline finances, business travel, and air shipment are listed without showing how they relate. Use more precise referencing and transitions, and build each paragraph around a connected line of reasoning rather than a series of separate claims.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic-related vocabulary, including “carbon footprints,” “air and noise pollution,” “commercial airlines,” and “business prospects.” There are also attempts at less common or formal phrasing, such as “adverse effects” and “cease flying,” though some choices are inaccurate or unnatural. For example, “It is widely acknowledged by a few individuals” is an awkward way to introduce the trend, while “large number of decline in air tickets” does not express the intended meaning clearly. “Airbase” is also not the right term for an airport in this context. These choices do not prevent the reader from understanding the main argument, but more accurate collocations and natural phrasing would improve precision. Prioritise learning common word partnerships for environmental and economic topics.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concessive opening (“Although this trend…”) and conditional phrasing (“if people decline to travel by air…”). The main ideas are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “due to large number of decline” is missing an article and has an incorrect noun construction; “countries, who have set up airbase” has faulty relative-clause agreement and article use; and “they will also suffer” repeats the subject unnecessarily after “If they abandon this method also.” The final sentence, “for business and individuals to run the economy,” is also structurally unclear. Practise accurate articles, relative clauses, and sentence endings, while keeping the complex structures you are already attempting.

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

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