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)

Nowadays, many people have decided to reduce the number of times they travel by air or stop flying altogether due to environmental concerns. Although this development creates some difficulties for individuals and businesess but i believe that environmental benefits outweigh their disadvantages.

On the one hand, reducing air travel can have several beneficial impacts on our environment. Airplanes produce a significant amount of carbon dioxide which contibute to global warming and climate change. I people reduce fly less frequently it can reduce carbon emission which is very favourable to a cleaner environment. Moreover, people can choose alternative for transport such as buses, public transport or trains which is less adverse. This can help people to protect environment and impeove the quality of life.

On the other hand, there are also drawbacks is travel by air os completely stoped. It can cause predicaments for those, whose families are living in another countries and they have to travel foe spend avcation at home and actually they came from their homeland for the seek of education and better employment. In this modern era, many individuals are decided to go abroad for higher education because it is very crucial for better job. In addition, it very paramount for business owner to travel towards various states for their business banefits.

In conclusion, some individuals have decided to stop travel by air due to environmental concerns because stop travelling by air is vey advantageous for impeoving life but there are some drawbacks such as difficulties for those who are living in another country for education and better employment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You present a clear view that the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both sides of the question. The environmental paragraph gives relevant reasons, including aircraft emissions and alternatives such as trains, while the opposing paragraph mentions family separation, overseas study and business travel. However, several points are asserted rather than explained: for example, the effect of choosing public transport on environmental impact is not developed, and the business disadvantage is only briefly stated. The conclusion repeats the position but does not weigh the competing effects in a specific way. To strengthen the response, explain how the benefits compare with the personal and commercial costs, and support each main point with a clearer example or consequence.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the main direction. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, particularly where the discussion shifts from family visits to education, employment and business travel without showing how these examples connect. Some linking is also mechanical, and the conclusion largely repeats earlier points rather than drawing them together. Use clearer topic sentences and organise each paragraph around one central idea, then explain it before moving to the next. More precise referencing would also help readers track who “they” refers to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “carbon dioxide,” “global warming,” “climate change,” “alternative transport” and “higher education,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal wording, such as “environmental concerns” and “employment.” However, spelling errors and inaccurate word choices are noticeable and sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow: “contibute,” “businesess,” “predicaments,” and “paramount” are examples. Some phrases are also unnatural, such as “travel towards various states for their business benefits” and “stop travelling by air is very advantageous.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully; simpler, precise wording is more effective than using formal-sounding terms inaccurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in the introduction (“Although this development creates…”) and a relative clause about families living abroad. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to understand. For example, “Although … but I believe” combines two contrasting structures, while “If people reduce fly less frequently it can reduce” has an incorrect verb pattern and unclear subject reference. Other examples include “there are also drawbacks is travel by air…” and “many individuals are decided to go abroad.” Work on forming complete clauses, using consistent verb forms, and checking subject–verb agreement and articles. Punctuate sentence boundaries carefully, and avoid joining contrasting clauses with both “although” and “but.”

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