Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-29

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)

In recent years, some people choose to reduce the number of flights they take or avoid air travel altogether because of environmental concerns. Although this decision can create difficulties for individuals and businesses, I believe that its environmental benfits ouweigh the disadvantages.

On the one hand, reducing air travel can create several problems. For individuals, flying is often the quickest way to visit family members who live abroad or far to their distances. Choosing alternative forms of transport may increase journey times and make travelling less convenient. Businesses can also be affected because international companies often depend on face-to-face meetings to build relationships with clients and partners. For instance, if employees travel less frequently, some negotiations and diffculties may arise. As a resut, a reduction in air travel could negatively affect airlines, airports, tourists businesses and fewer employment opportunities.

On the other hand,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You establish a relevant position in the introduction: you believe the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and the first body paragraph gives pertinent drawbacks for individuals and businesses. However, the response addresses the task only minimally because it stops just as the paragraph on environmental benefits is about to begin. There is no explanation of what those benefits are, no comparison showing why they outweigh the costs, and no developed conclusion. The examples about family visits, business meetings and employment are also brief rather than supported. The response is 107 words below the required minimum, which contributes to the lack of development. To improve, explain specific environmental gains, such as lower aviation emissions, and weigh them directly against the disadvantages before concluding.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The opening clearly introduces the issue and your position, and “On the one hand” signals that the next paragraph will discuss disadvantages. Within that paragraph, the sequence from personal travel to business effects is generally understandable, with “For instance” and “As a result” attempting to connect examples and consequences. However, the response has no completed second side of the discussion: “On the other hand,” is left unfinished, so the overall progression and paragraph structure are incomplete. Some links are also imprecise, and the final sentence combines several consequences without clearly showing how they relate. Complete each side in a separate, developed paragraph, use clear links between cause and effect, and add a conclusion that returns to your comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “environmental concerns,” “alternative forms of transport,” “face-to-face meetings,” and “employment opportunities.” These choices make the main points understandable and show some ability to discuss travel and business impacts. However, several inaccurate or awkward expressions reduce precision, such as “far to their distances,” “tourists businesses,” and “some negotiations and difficulties may arise.” There are also spelling errors in “benfits,” “ouweigh,” “diffculties,” and “resut.” These slips do not prevent the reader from understanding the general argument, but careful proofreading and more natural collocations would strengthen control. Aim to use precise phrases such as “long distances,” “tourism businesses,” and “negotiations may be delayed or become more difficult.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You show some variety in sentence construction, including a complex opening with “Although” and a conditional clause beginning “if employees travel less frequently.” Most of the basic sentence meanings are clear, and the present-tense forms are generally appropriate. However, the unfinished “On the other hand,” leaves a sentence incomplete, and some grammatical patterns are awkward, including “family members who live abroad or far to their distances.” The final sentence also has an unclear structure: “airlines, airports, tourists businesses and fewer employment opportunities” mixes affected organisations with an outcome. Use complete sentences, check prepositions and phrase structure, and make sure items in a list are grammatically parallel. Developing the response would also give you more opportunity to demonstrate a wider range of accurate sentence forms.

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