Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-03

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)

Many individuals have reached a consensus to lower the amount of times they travel by air each year or to avoid travelling by flight generally. I am strongly of the opinion, the demerits are greater than the advantages.

To start with, people deciding not to travel by air has resulted to low govermental profit. In the present world today, reduction through transport by air has contributed massively to the economical decline. For instance, it has been observed through statistics, that income generated from people who booked their flight previously was at 45%, but, recently, due to the fact that many people are no longer choosing to fly by air, the profit gotten from transport by air has reduced to 15% which is now affecting the economy.

Similary, the disadvantage of people not travelling by air has increased the number of kidnapping on the way. Many individuals are now travelling by land. Initially, there were less people using land transport, however, the movement by land had caused high way robbers to take over the road and are now seen abducting travellers and demanding huge ransom before they can be released, and some of them are middle men who dont have enough, they end up borrowing and living in debt all because of travelling by land.

On the contrary, it is without doubt, that not travelling by air has an advantage in the aspect of increasing private ownned land tranport companies revenue. There are now increased number of persons who patronize these transport industries thereby generating more income for themselves. For instance, a transport company called Peace Park before now dont have enough passengers, there ws nothing like booking in advance, but , because of the decision of people nowadays, to use land means of transportation it had favoured these companies.

In coclusion, aside the benefits private established transport companies had generated, i am strongly of the opinion that the disadvantage outweighs the benefits by increase in abduction and decrease it has caused in the economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear view that the disadvantages outweigh the environmental benefits, and you discuss effects on both individuals and businesses, including road safety and transport-company revenue. However, the response only partly addresses the central comparison: the environmental benefits of flying less are not explained, and the economic claims are not clearly linked to the scale of those benefits. The claim that reduced air travel has caused a fall in government profit is asserted through figures but not explained or supported, while the kidnapping example is developed more fully but remains a broad generalisation. To strengthen the response, explain specific environmental gains, such as lower aviation emissions, then weigh them directly against the personal and business costs using clearer, relevant support.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, two paragraphs presenting disadvantages, a contrasting paragraph about land-transport businesses, and a conclusion that restates your position. Sequencing phrases such as “To start with,” “Similarly,” and “On the contrary” help signal the direction of the argument. However, some links are mechanical or do not express the relationship precisely: “On the contrary” introduces another consequence rather than a direct contradiction, and “aside the benefits” in the conclusion makes the contrast unclear. Some sentences also contain several connected claims, making the progression harder to follow. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to the paragraph’s main point; ensure pronouns and references identify their subjects unambiguously.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “transport by air,” “land transport,” “ransom,” “revenue,” and “economical decline,” and the reader can generally understand your intended meaning. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision: “governmental profit” is not the usual expression for public revenue, “profit gotten” is informal, and “private owned land transport companies” is awkward. Spelling errors such as “Similary,” “coclusion,” “govermental,” and “ownned” also reduce control. Aim for accurate collocations and avoid repeating “people,” “transport,” and “by air.” Learning phrases such as “aviation revenue,” “road-based transport operators,” and “carbon emissions” would help you discuss the topic more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and longer sentences with subordinate clauses, for example the sentence beginning “Initially, there were less people…” and the explanation of travellers borrowing money. This shows an attempt to vary sentence structure, but control is uneven. There are errors in agreement and verb forms, as in “people deciding not to travel by air has resulted” and “a transport company… don’t have”; the opening also needs a clearer clause boundary in “I am strongly of the opinion, the demerits are greater.” Articles, plurals, and punctuation are inconsistent, and some long sentences join several ideas without clear boundaries. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and divide complex explanations into shorter, well-punctuated sentences while retaining a mix of structures.

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