Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-28

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)

A number of individuals have decided to minimise annual number of flights or to quit completely. While it has some limitations for people and corporations, I believe that the benefits of this thought outweigh the drawbacks.

One of the main advantages of this trend is low carbon emission. This is to say, the minimum number of aircrafts would cause less air pollution in the environment. Another worth considering benefit is preservation of natural reasources. To illustrate, airways industries utilise huge amount of fossil fuels, which can be preserved for future generations. Finally, the last but not least benefit is conservation of biodiversity. To justify, the airways cause harm to the flying spices by distrubing the habitate and causing pollution in the sky.

Despite this advantages, there are some disadvantages for people and businesses. the most significant drawback is decline in economic condition. This means that the airlines indusries contribute its large share in the economy of a country. If people cease travelling, these organisations would suffer loss and cause further issues like recession and unemlopyment. Furthermore, other limitation is collaspe of business opportunities which means when people do not travell overseas, it will lead to the loss of business opportunities and deals.

To conclude, although the reduction in flights has some disadvantages. I believe that the advantages outweigh them because its positive outcomes for the environmemt.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear position: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both environmental gains and effects on individuals and businesses. The points about emissions, fossil-fuel use, biodiversity, airline losses and employment are relevant. However, several are asserted rather than explained: for example, the link between fewer flights and biodiversity is unclear, and the economic consequences are not balanced against the scale of environmental benefits. The conclusion repeats your view but does not draw the reasoning together. The response also contains 226 words, so it does not meet the required minimum of 250; this limits the space available to develop and support your ideas. Add specific explanations or examples and address the comparison more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental benefits, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “One of the main advantages,” “Despite this,” and “To conclude” helps readers follow the broad structure. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, particularly with “Another worth considering benefit” and “Finally, the last but not least benefit.” Some links between claims are also unclear, such as the move from aircraft pollution to harm to flying species. The conclusion is very brief and does not synthesise the two sides. Use fewer formulaic transitions, connect each explanation directly to its main point, and develop the final comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “carbon emission,” “fossil fuels,” “biodiversity,” “economic condition,” and “business opportunities.” This gives the response enough vocabulary to communicate its main ideas. However, inaccurate word choice, collocation and spelling are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause. Examples include “airways industries” for the airline industry, “flying spices” for flying species, “habitate,” and “collaspe.” Phrases such as “the minimum number of aircrafts” and “decline in economic condition” are also unnatural in context. Aim for precise, conventional collocations and check spelling carefully; a smaller number of accurately used topic-specific terms will be more effective than awkward or incorrect expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and some more complex forms, including a concessive opening (“While it has some limitations…”) and a conditional sentence beginning “If people cease travelling.” These structures help express contrast and cause. However, errors in sentence construction, agreement, articles and punctuation remain noticeable. For example, “Despite this advantages” has a mismatch between the determiner and plural noun, while “the airlines indusries contribute its large share” has problems with agreement and reference. The conclusion begins with a dependent clause—“although the reduction in flights has some disadvantages”—but does not complete that sentence correctly. Review article and agreement patterns, and ensure each subordinate clause is attached to a complete main clause.

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

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