Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-04

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)

Some individuals has choosen to reduce the number of times they fly every year altogether. This step inturns favour environmental benefit but also has economical disadvantages. In my opinion, one should take flight only if its necessary as its disadvatage always outweigh the advantages

In one hand, high amount of carbon is emmited during every single flight which overall affects the emvironment. Also unlike cars and trains can run on renewable electricity, large commercial aviation heavily reliant on fossile fule ignition. In addition high financial cost is needed as travelling through air is considered most expensive mode of transportation. In addition flights are highly sensitive to weather conditions which can cause freqeunt delays.

On the other hand, one should always consider the flight if they have urgents business meeting and important ceremonoy as it saves significant amount of time. Reduction in use of flight will heavily affect the economy as it has a huge share in transportaion industry. Furthermore its very convinient to use flights as its saves lots of efforts in carrying luggages and other materail as compared to travel by road. For example, If someone has urgent business meeting they can prefer using flight as it will save their time and effort even if it costs high.

In conclusion, As using flight frequently leads to many environmental issues along with the affordibility is has. It does save lots of time and efforts as compared to travelling by road. In my view, one should only use flights if its necessary and urgent. Otherwise they should prefer travelling through road

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear view that flying should be limited to necessary or urgent situations, and you discuss environmental effects alongside consequences for individuals and businesses. The points about aviation emissions and the time saved for urgent meetings are relevant. However, the response only partly answers whether the environmental benefits outweigh the disadvantages: the opening says disadvantages outweigh advantages, while the conclusion recommends avoiding unnecessary flights without directly comparing the overall benefits and costs. Several ideas are asserted rather than explained, such as the claim that reduced flying would heavily affect the economy. Develop this with a specific consequence or example, and make the comparison explicit throughout. The response contains 250 words, with 10 words copied from the prompt excluded from that count.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion. The use of “On the other hand” signals a shift to disadvantages, and “In conclusion” makes the ending easy to identify. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the first body paragraph moves from emissions to fuel sources, cost and weather delays without showing how each point supports the central comparison. “In addition” is repeated, and “In one hand” is an inaccurate linking phrase. The conclusion also repeats earlier points rather than drawing them together into a clear judgement. Group related ideas, use transitions more precisely, and make references such as “its” unambiguous.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “carbon,” “renewable electricity,” “commercial aviation” and “transportation industry,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation and spelling problems make the writing less clear or natural. Examples include “high amount of carbon,” “fossile fule ignition,” “urgent business meeting” and “carrying luggages”; these expressions are either inaccurate or awkward. Spelling errors such as “emmitted,” “emvironment” and “convinient” are also noticeable. Aim for accurate, natural combinations and check spelling carefully. More precise terms for emissions, operating costs and the economic effects of reduced air travel would help you explain your ideas with greater clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, for example the sentence beginning “Although cars and trains can run on renewable electricity” is an opportunity to express a contrast, and you use clauses with “as” and “which.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. The opening has subject–verb and verb-form problems (“Some individuals has choosen”), while “one should take flight only if its necessary” lacks the required verb form and apostrophe. There are also problems with articles, plurals and sentence boundaries, as in “high amount of carbon” and “In conclusion, As…”. Practise accurate agreement, articles and clause construction, then proofread punctuation and sentence openings.

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

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