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 people have stopped taking flights frequently every year as it affects the environment negatively. This essay shall discuss whether the pros of this development outweighs the cons of affecting individuals and businesses.

On the one hand, many people fly all around the wold however some believe that flying too much can affect environment by polluting it. Operating any aircraft needs ton of fuel that can contaminate the atmosphere and can deplete the ozone layer which is used for the protection of environment from uv rays. For instance, reduction in flights can produce a great impact to the surroundings. furthermore, the environment can benefits if the excessive consumption of fuels become restricted as that fuel can be used for other several purposes.

On the other hand, this development can be prove a great downfall for businesses as many people tend to fly over different cities or countries for meeting or other business objectives to save their time and be efficient. Moreover, many individuals love to travel all around the world. For such purposes they book their flights every month.if the number of flights lessen, the ticket prices will For example, if the number of flights become limited, it will badly influence the business market plus tourism will disappear over the time.

To sum it up, i believe that limiting the number of flights can cause a positive impact on environment but the disadvantages that affect industries and individuals outweighs that.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both sides of the question and give a clear final view that the disadvantages outweigh the environmental benefits. The body paragraphs identify relevant effects, including fuel use, business travel and tourism. However, the discussion is only partial and the ideas are under-developed: for example, the claim that reduced flights would make tourism “disappear” is not explained or supported, and the environmental argument about fuel being used for other purposes does not clearly show the scale of the benefit. The introduction also frames the issue as whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages without stating your own position until the conclusion. The response is 10 words below the required minimum, so it needs a little more relevant explanation and support to meet the task fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting opposing sides, and a conclusion. “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help signal the contrast, and the conclusion returns to the central question. However, progression within the paragraphs is uneven: the first moves from pollution to ozone depletion and then to fuel use without clearly connecting these points, while the second shifts from business travel to personal tourism and ticket prices. The sentence beginning “if the number of flights lessen” is unfinished, which interrupts the flow. Use clearer links between each claim and its consequence, and ensure every sentence is complete. More precise referencing would also help readers follow the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “polluting,” “atmosphere,” “business objectives,” “ticket prices” and “tourism.” There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “this development” and “excessive consumption.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, including “affect environment,” “ton of fuel,” “great downfall for businesses” and “produce a great impact to the surroundings.” Spelling and form errors such as “wold” and “benefits” in “the environment can benefits” also reduce precision. Build a more accurate set of phrases for describing environmental effects and economic consequences, and check spelling and word forms during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “the ozone layer which is used for the protection” and a conditional structure beginning “if the number of flights…”. However, the range is limited, and errors are frequent enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include subject–verb agreement in “the pros … outweighs” and “the environment can benefits,” the faulty form “can be prove,” and the incomplete sentence “the ticket prices will.” There are also problems with sentence boundaries and punctuation, such as “every month.if” and the lower-case “furthermore” after a full stop. Practise complete conditional sentences and check agreement, verb forms and punctuation carefully.

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