Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

An essential aspect to consider is environment, many individuals believe that they should stop flying frequently or gradually stop flying altogether. I strongly consider that this approach could significantly enhace the benefits to environment, it may affect businesses and individuals but beneficial to environment

Aircrafts affects the ecosystem majorly due to the pollution they cause by heavy use of energy and resources. Reduction in flying could enrich the air quality and saves reduction in carbon emissions, improved environmental quality, encouraging sustainable mode of transport. Aircraft burns larg quantities of fuel and poisonous gases transmission around the world. For example, reducing unnecessary short haul flights could speed up the use of trains and buses. Moreover less air traffic could gradually uplift air quality by reducing noise pollution around the airports. Reduces pressure on environment for expansion of airports. This suports local communities and habitats. In addition sustainable use of transport like buses, trains, and electric vehicles help environment sustain benefits by controlling the impact of heavy gas circulations and creating massive energy.

On the one hand, it can adversely affect commercial activities and long run of businesses with long term consequences such as negative impact on business and inconvenience caused to local and international individuals. International companies may depend on air travels for meeting and negotiations for business relation may get affected. Small businesses may lose their international clients and struggle to deal. Several inconvenience to people such as loss of connection with families living away.

To summarize, reduction in airway transportation can significantly gives a positive impact to environment, transportation and in carbon emissions.Reducing unnecessary travelling is bonefficial overall,although a complete ban woold not be practical

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You give a clear overall view: reducing flights is beneficial, although a complete ban would be impractical. The environmental case is relevant and includes several effects, such as lower carbon emissions, less noise near airports, and reduced pressure to expand airports. You also address disadvantages for businesses and individuals, including disrupted business relationships and separation from family. However, these opposing points are less fully explained than the environmental benefits, and the comparison of whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages is asserted more than demonstrated. For example, explain why alternatives such as online meetings or rail travel can offset the business impact. Developing the consequences and weighing both sides more explicitly would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental benefits, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the main direction of your argument. You also use linking expressions such as “Moreover,” “On the one hand,” and “To summarize.” However, some connections are mechanical or unclear, and several ideas are presented as fragments, including “Reduces pressure on environment for expansion of airports.” The environmental paragraph also moves quickly between emissions, transport alternatives, noise, and habitats without consistently showing how each point relates to the main claim. Use complete sentences and clearer links between cause and effect, and make the conclusion directly compare the benefits with the disadvantages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “carbon emissions,” “noise pollution,” “sustainable mode of transport,” and “international clients.” These choices show that you can discuss environmental and business impacts, and the main message is generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “enrich the air quality,” “poisonous gases transmission,” and “long run of businesses.” Spelling errors, including “enhace,” “larg,” and “suports,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural combinations and check word forms and spelling. For instance, describe improving air quality, emissions from aircraft, and long-term business consequences rather than relying on phrases that do not fit their intended meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional idea about reducing short-haul flights and a sentence beginning “Although a complete ban would not be practical.” However, control of sentence structure is uneven, and some errors make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. The opening joins independent ideas with commas, while “Aircrafts affects” has a subject–verb agreement problem. Other examples include “Reduction in flying could enrich the air quality and saves…” and the fragment “Reduces pressure on environment…”. There are also problems with articles, plurals, and punctuation. Build accuracy by checking that each sentence has a clear subject and finite verb, and practise agreement and parallel verb forms in joined clauses.

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