Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-31

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 stated that recently some people makes a decision to limit the number of travel every year or completely stop flying altogether. As it is a positive step for environment while it also impact the individuals and businesses. I discuss both advantages and disadvantages of this topic.

On one hand, due to limiting traveling across the world have the advantage on the environment because of it the emission rate of gasses decreases in the atmosphere. Moreover, when there is significant decline in traveling the count of people decreases then the individuals with only proper reason or due to business meetings travel overseas. Due to which the less fuel burnt in the air and emission of carbon dioxide drastically reduces. For instance, during the panademics of Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021 due to the lock down there was a significant reduction in air travels benefits the environment.

In contrast, owing to reduction in a traveling overseas directly or indirectly affects the businesses of individuals. Furthermore, decline in tourism cause instability in financial literacy . For instance, when people visit foreign countries it directly promotes the resturants, hotels and their cultural things which is a positive aspect of visiting. Even though when the individuals stop these type of activities they have direct impact on their financial stability. Some countries rely on tourism for their earning.

In conclusion, i say that as reduction in traveling have a positive impact on environment where as businesses of individuals suffer due to decline in tourism as it covers a greater amount of someone needs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both sides of the question by describing reduced emissions and the possible harm to tourism-related businesses, and your conclusion indicates that you see environmental gains alongside economic costs. However, the task asks whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and your final position does not clearly decide this: “businesses of individuals suffer” is set against environmental benefits without explaining which matters more. Some points are also under-developed. The Covid-19 example illustrates reduced air travel, but the link to lasting environmental benefits could be clearer; similarly, you mention tourism income without explaining how reduced flights affect individuals or businesses in detail. State your judgement directly and support it with a specific comparison of the impacts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for environmental and economic effects, and a conclusion. “On one hand” and “In contrast” help signal the change in viewpoint, so the overall arrangement is coherent. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow, particularly in the environmental paragraph, where the relationship between fewer travellers, business travel, fuel use and emissions is not expressed clearly. Some linking phrases are also mechanical or unclear, such as “Due to which” and “Even though when.” The conclusion repeats the two sides rather than resolving the comparison. Improve cohesion by making each paragraph develop one clear claim in a logical sequence and using precise references between sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “emission,” “carbon dioxide,” “tourism,” “financial stability” and “lock down,” which helps communicate the main ideas. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate enough to make parts of the argument unclear. For example, “financial literacy” does not express the intended idea of economic instability, and “the count of people decreases” is an awkward way to describe fewer travellers. There are also spelling errors such as “panademics” and “resturants,” alongside repeated use of “traveling” and “individuals.” Build a more precise set of topic phrases and check spelling and collocations so that your meaning is consistently clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “because,” “when” and “while.” Nevertheless, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “some people makes a decision” has an agreement error, while “limiting traveling across the world have the advantage” has problems with both the subject and verb. The sentence beginning “As it is a positive step” is also incomplete, and “Due to which” does not form a complete sentence. Practise building accurate subject–verb structures and complete sentences first, then add subordinate clauses. Review punctuation and capitalisation, especially in the conclusion.

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