Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-02

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 4.5)

I don't have a preference for planes or even for terrestrial travel but I can answer and give some reasonable examples regarding this statement. I think people have decided to stop flying because in the last few years we saw an impressive numbers of accidents and they have try to stop flying and insteed use another method of travel. It's remarkable to see how the media affects us in every way because we follow and see everything which makes us scared. In fact, I know that this type of travel is safer than the other ones.

This decision affects businesses because they need people and sometimes we can see some travel discounts. I will give another importance to the high prices of tickets because usually people can't afford to buy expensive tickets and they are looking for something cheaper and tosave money for the holiday things.

I can detail a strong example from our trips from the UK to Romania. Over the last years, an increasing number of people have moved to the UK and every year they go to Romania to visit families. Due to the fact that air travel is exorbitant, they choose another type of travel for holidays. I choose to go in holiday to Romania with car, because we found it more affordable for our budget and we do this every year before I check the plane companies.

The disadvantages are usually impressive for us because we spend 2 days travelling by car while with plane we

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response makes a relevant attempt to discuss reduced flying, but it only minimally answers the central question: whether environmental benefits outweigh disadvantages for individuals and businesses. The opening focuses on fear of accidents and media influence, while the later paragraphs discuss ticket prices and choosing a car; neither explains the environmental benefits or clearly weighs them against the costs. The UK–Romania example gives a personal illustration of expense and travel time, but its connection to the environmental comparison is not developed. Your position on which side outweighs the other is also missing, and the final sentence is unfinished. To strengthen the response, state your view directly, explain how fewer flights affect emissions, and compare that benefit with specific consequences for travellers and businesses.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is some paragraphing, and the response moves from a general introduction to business costs and then a personal travel example. However, the ideas are not arranged into a clear argument that answers the question. The opening shifts from accidents to media influence and then to safety without showing how these points connect to environmental benefits. Phrases such as “This decision” and “I will give another importance” do not make the relationship between ideas clear, and the final paragraph begins a comparison but stops at “with plane we”. Use a simple structure: introduce your position, explain the environmental case, discuss disadvantages, and conclude with a direct comparison. Clear links between each paragraph would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “air travel,” “travel discounts,” “exorbitant,” and “affordable,” and the reader can generally understand the intended subject. There are also attempts at less common expressions, such as “terrestrial travel” and “an increasing number.” However, several choices are unnatural or imprecise, including “give another importance,” “holiday things,” and “go in holiday.” Spelling and word-form errors such as “insteed” and “to save” written as “tosave” also reduce control. Aim for more natural collocations and precise terms connected to the prompt, such as “carbon emissions,” “flight frequency,” and “business travel.” This would help express the environmental comparison more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, for example, “Over the last years, an increasing number of people have moved to the UK and every year they go to Romania to visit families.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make the intended meaning harder to follow. Examples include “they have try to stop flying,” “I choose to go in holiday,” and “we spend 2 days travelling by car while with plane we,” which has an incomplete comparison and unfinished clause. There are also problems with articles, verb forms, and sentence boundaries. Practise building accurate complex sentences with clear subjects and complete clauses; for instance, finish the car-versus-plane comparison and check tense consistency when describing past and repeated travel.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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