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 people decided to reduce travelling by plane in a year or to hold flying by plane entirely. If a lot of people do this every year then it gonna be beneficial for the environment. Since, all the work can be done by the internet wholly, its not gonna effect the individuals or businesses. I agree with the reduction of using flight by peoples.

Each flight trip can cost tons of liter of jet fuel, carbon released to the atmosphere after the burning of fuel. Resulted in the rising of global warming globally. If people declined the uses of plane on regular basis, global carbon emissions would drop significantly. For example, EV cars are mandatory for all in some countries of Europe, the carbon reduction of those countries fell massively. Moreover, people can use electric trains for transport instead of high carbon consuming planes.

On the other hand, international business is now operated online around the world. people usually travels for business meeting globally, which is now done online by sitting in home. However, some practical work have to done in presence, it may effect the work. For instance, Singapore is known for business meeting hub globally. However, Some businesses might face issues regarding the actual presence in different part of the globe. I agree with the benefits of environment and decision of peoples.

In conclusion, reducing the number of flight by groups of people resulted in decrease of many flights around the world, saves the carbon emission in the world. The individuals and business work will face major problem.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both the environmental benefits and the possible effects on individuals and businesses, and your position is generally in favour of reducing flights. The discussion of emissions and alternatives such as electric trains is relevant. However, the comparison required by “outweigh the disadvantages” is not fully resolved: you claim online work means there will be little impact, then acknowledge that some businesses need people physically present, and conclude that individuals and businesses will face “major problem.” This leaves your final judgement unclear. The examples about electric vehicles in Europe and Singapore are mentioned but not explained enough to show how they support your argument. Develop the disadvantages more precisely and make your overall comparison consistent.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on environmental benefits, a paragraph on business effects, and a conclusion. This gives the reader an overall route through your ideas, and signposts such as “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” help identify shifts. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. The example about electric vehicles does not directly establish the effect of reducing air travel, and the business paragraph moves from online meetings to Singapore without explaining the connection. Some linking is mechanical, and the conclusion introduces a claim about “major problem” that conflicts with the earlier reassurance. Use clearer links between each claim and its example, and ensure the conclusion follows the position developed in the body.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “global carbon emissions,” “jet fuel,” “electric trains,” and “business meeting,” so the main subject is usually clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “carbon released to the atmosphere.” However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or repetitive, which sometimes makes meaning less clear: “hold flying by plane,” “tons of liter,” and “declined the uses of plane” are not natural expressions. “Effect” is also used where “affect” is needed, and “carbon reduction” is vague in the example. Build a more reliable set of topic collocations and check word forms; for example, use “reduce air travel,” “litres of jet fuel,” and “cut carbon emissions.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including conditional phrasing such as “If a lot of people do this every year…” and a contrast introduced by “However.” Nevertheless, control is inconsistent, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur throughout. Examples include “it gonna be beneficial,” “people usually travels,” and “some practical work have to done.” The opening also contains a sentence fragment beginning “Since,” and the final sentence has an unclear subject and verb relationship. These errors can make the reader pause to interpret your meaning. Practise accurate basic sentence patterns first, then build longer sentences with subordinate clauses, checking subject–verb agreement and complete verb forms.

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