Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-30

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)

It is widely acknowledged that some people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year of to stop flying altogether. Although there are compelling arguements on both side I strongly believe that the disadvantages outweighs the advantages mainly because there will be lack of connections and corporate world will suffer.

The primary reason for my viewpoint is that there will be lack of connections. In particular, if people don't travel and visit their close ones the bond will become weaker as the time passes. For instance a specific example of this can be seen in the survey conducted in the UK which states that 70% of the relations gets weaker and breaks down due to long distance between them.

Equally significant is the fact that it will affect corporate world. To accentuate it, if the corporate employes doesn't travel for their meetings with other international companies as a result , there will be lack of trust and negotiation. A pertinent example of this can be seen in the survey conducted in Canada last year which states that the international firms are sufffering due to lack of travel and meetings.

However, there will be also some advantages such as less use of fossil fuels. In other words, if the people reduce the number of times they fly every year it will save fuel as well as their money.

In conclusion, if people reduce the number of times they fly every year there will be disadvantages such as lack of connections and the corporate world will suffer; however there will also be some advantages like the less use of fossil fuels and money.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You take a clear position that the disadvantages outweigh the environmental benefits and address both sides, giving reasons about personal relationships, business travel and reduced fuel use. However, the discussion is only partially developed: the claims about weaker relationships and corporate trust are asserted rather than explained in depth, and the survey examples are not connected to specific consequences. The environmental benefit is mentioned only briefly, so the comparison does not fully establish why the disadvantages outweigh it. The response also falls 7 words short of the 250-word minimum; the 32 words copied from the task prompt are excluded from the count. Develop each main point with clearer explanation and a more balanced comparison.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two paragraphs supporting your position, a paragraph acknowledging an advantage, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “In particular,” “Equally significant,” and “However” help signal the direction of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is limited, and several links feel mechanical. For example, “To accentuate it” does not clearly introduce the explanation that follows, while “A pertinent example” repeats a similar formula used earlier. The conclusion largely repeats the introduction rather than drawing together the comparison. Build clearer links between each claim, its explanation and its example, and use referencing or varied transitions to avoid repetitive sequencing.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “fossil fuels,” “international companies,” “negotiation,” and “environmental benefits,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation and spelling problems reduce precision. For example, “lack of connections” is vague for the relationship point, “corporate world” is repeated, and “less use of fossil fuels” is less natural than a phrase describing reduced fuel consumption. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “arguements,” “employes,” and “sufffering.” Aim for more precise topic vocabulary and check spelling carefully; this would make the argument clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional clauses such as “if people don’t travel…” and a concession introduced by “Although.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward or difficult to follow. Examples include “the disadvantages outweighs,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “if the corporate employes doesn’t travel,” which has an incorrect verb form and agreement. Article and plural errors also appear in “there will be lack of connections” and “70% of the relations gets weaker.” Punctuation is sometimes faulty, as in the space before the comma in “as a result ,”. Practise accurate agreement, articles and sentence boundaries while varying structures.

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