Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Many people nowadays have decided to stop flying or to limit the amount of times they use this form of transport. This will undoubtedly have great benefits for the environment, but it may mean that for individuals or businesses this can translate to higher expenses. I believe the disadvantages for individuals and businesses would be greater than the effects on the environment. This essay will discuss advantages and disadvantages of this.

Environmental benefits of reduced airtravel would have a direct effect in the amount of pollution in the air, which would mean a greener planet. However, this would also mean a rise in the use of other types of transportation. For example, if the amount of cars, buses or trucks on the road increases this also means greenhouse gas emissions increase too.

On the other hand, for individuals or businesses this could mean higher travelling costs, as well as lengthy trips and possible delays in reaching their destinations. All of this can effect the companies resources and even possibly cause them to lose business deals, or not even commence them due to restricted trading times. Higher costs for companies can cause job cuts which can have devastating effects for families.

In conclusion, I believe the disadvantages on individuals and businesses caused by a reduction in air travel are far greater. The potential implications for companies og higher travel and shipping costs, could reflect losses that can eventuate in job cuts. The effects on the environment would not be enough to merit such a drastic culture change and possibly pollution levels could rise as a result of the increase on other contaminants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you argue that the disadvantages for individuals and businesses outweigh the environmental benefits. You address both sides and give relevant consequences, including higher travel costs, delays, possible lost business, and job cuts. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained. For example, the claim that reduced flying could increase road traffic and emissions needs a clearer explanation of when travellers would switch to cars, buses, or trucks and how this affects the overall comparison. The business impacts are more developed than the environmental case, and the conclusion repeats your view without weighing the scale of the two effects in detail. Develop each main reason with a specific example or explanation to make the comparison more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for environmental and business effects, and a conclusion. The progression from the environmental argument to the disadvantages is easy to follow, and signposts such as “However,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help orient the reader. At times, though, the links between ideas are mechanical or not fully clear. The opening says reduced flying may raise expenses, but the first body paragraph shifts to road emissions without explicitly connecting this to the overall weighing of benefits and costs. In the conclusion, “The effects on the environment” is a broad reference that could be more precise. Use clearer links between each claim and your central comparison, and avoid repeating the same conclusion point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a generally adequate range for the topic, including “greenhouse gas emissions,” “trading times,” “restricted,” and “devastating effects.” These choices communicate the main ideas, but some wording is imprecise or awkward, which limits the clarity and flexibility of the vocabulary. For instance, “the amount of times” is less natural than “the frequency,” and “effect in the amount of pollution” does not express the intended relationship idiomatically. “Other contaminants” is also vague in this context, where “emissions from road transport” would be more precise. Check spelling and word forms as well: “airtravel” should be written as two words, and “og” appears to be a typing error for “of.” More precise collocations would strengthen the argument.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “if the amount of cars, buses or trucks on the road increases” and a relative clause in “which can have devastating effects for families.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward constructions are present. In “this can translate to higher expenses,” the pronoun reference is unclear; “this” could refer to the decision or its consequences. The sentence beginning “The potential implications…” is also incomplete as written: “could reflect losses” does not form a clear grammatical relationship with the preceding noun phrase. Review sentence boundaries and make sure each clause has a clear subject and verb. Greater control of these structures would make your reasoning easier to follow.

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