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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. Write at least 250 words.
Band 9 Answer (explanation and Hard vocabulary
In recent years, a growing number of individuals have opted to curtail their air travel or, in some cases, abandon it altogether. While this shift has clear environmental merits, it also entails potential drawbacks for personal convenience and economic activity. This essay will argue that the ecological advantages significantly outweigh the disadvantages.
On the one hand, reducing the frequency of flights substantially lessens carbon emissions, which are a major contributor to global warming. Aircraft burn vast quantities of fossil fuels, releasing not only carbon dioxide but also nitrogen oxides, both of which exacerbate climate change. Consequently, a decline in air travel could mitigate the intensity of extreme weather events, safeguard biodiversity, and help nations meet international climate targets. Furthermore, it encourages innovation in sustainable transport, such as high-speed rail and electric aviation.
On the other hand, limiting flights undeniably creates challenges for individuals and businesses. For frequent flyers, especially professionals engaged in international trade, reduced travel may hinder networking, client meetings, or cultural exchange. Similarly, tourism-dependent economies could suffer financial losses, leading to job cuts and reduced revenue. However, many of these disadvantages can be offset by digital communication technologies, such as video conferencing, and by promoting domestic tourism, which supports local economies while maintaining lower emissions.
In conclusion, although a reduction in air travel can inconvenience individuals and pose difficulties for global business, its profound environmental benefits—ranging from emission reduction to ecological preservation—far outweigh the drawbacks. With technological adaptation and innovative alternatives, both personal and commercial needs can still be fulfilled sustainably.
( 272 words)
1. Introduction
“In recent years, a growing number of individuals have opted to curtail their air travel or, in some cases, abandon it altogether. While this shift has clear environmental merits, it also entails potential drawbacks for personal convenience and economic activity. This essay will argue that the ecological advantages significantly outweigh the disadvantages.”
Why this works:
Background statement: Paraphrases the question without copying (“curtail air travel” instead of “reduce flights”).
Balanced view: Mentions both benefits (environmental) and drawbacks (personal, business). This shows awareness of both sides.
Clear thesis: States the writer’s position explicitly (“advantages significantly outweigh disadvantages”), which IELTS examiners love.
Band 9 Feature: Concise, formal, and uses precise vocabulary (curtail, abandon, entails).
2. Body 1 – Environmental Benefits
“On the one hand, reducing the frequency of flights substantially lessens carbon emissions, which are a major contributor to global warming. Aircraft burn vast quantities of fossil fuels, releasing not only carbon dioxide but also nitrogen oxides, both of which exacerbate climate change. Consequently, a decline in air travel could mitigate the intensity of extreme weather events, safeguard biodiversity, and help nations meet international climate targets. Furthermore, it encourages innovation in sustainable transport, such as high-speed rail and electric aviation.”
Why this works:
Topic sentence: Starts with “On the one hand” → clearly signals the argument side.
Specific evidence: Mentions carbon emissions, fossil fuels, nitrogen oxides. This gives scientific credibility.
Cause and effect: Shows logical links (less flying → fewer emissions → reduced climate change → protection of biodiversity).
Extension: Goes beyond environment to innovation (rail, electric aviation).
Band 9 Feature: Depth of ideas, not just “air travel is bad for the environment.”
3. Body 2 – Disadvantages for Individuals and Businesses
“On the other hand, limiting flights undeniably creates challenges for individuals and businesses. For frequent flyers, especially professionals engaged in international trade, reduced travel may hinder networking, client meetings, or cultural exchange. Similarly, tourism-dependent economies could suffer financial losses, leading to job cuts and reduced revenue. However, many of these disadvantages can be offset by digital communication technologies, such as video conferencing, and by promoting domestic tourism, which supports local economies while maintaining lower emissions.”
Why this works:
Topic sentence: Acknowledges drawbacks (“challenges for individuals and businesses”).
Examples: Gives realistic scenarios (professionals, tourism-dependent economies).
Balance: Instead of only listing negatives, it shows solutions (video conferencing, domestic tourism).
Cohesion: Uses hinder, suffer, offset to maintain academic tone.
Band 9 Feature: Balanced argument → shows critical thinking and doesn’t sound one-sided.
4. Conclusion
“In conclusion, although a reduction in air travel can inconvenience individuals and pose difficulties for global business, its profound environmental benefits—ranging from emission reduction to ecological preservation—far outweigh the drawbacks. With technological adaptation and innovative alternatives, both personal and commercial needs can still be fulfilled sustainably.”
Why this works:
Concession: Briefly acknowledges negatives (“inconvenience… difficulties”).
Restates thesis: Confirms the writer’s strong stance (“benefits far outweigh the drawbacks”).
Forward-looking ending: Suggests solutions (technological adaptation, innovative alternatives) → gives a positive and futuristic tone.
Band 9 Feature: Strong, decisive ending.
✅ Overall, this structure ensures:
Task Response (TR): Fully addresses both sides, clear opinion.
Coherence & Cohesion (CC): Logical flow with linking words (on the one hand, on the other hand, consequently, however, although).
Lexical Resource (LR): Sophisticated vocabulary.
Grammar (GRA): Range of complex structures, accurate throughout.
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Synonyms |
|---|---|---|
| Curtail | To reduce or limit something | Reduce, cut back, restrict |
| Abandon | To give up completely | Forsake, relinquish, renounce |
| Exacerbate | To make a problem worse | Aggravate, intensify, worsen |
| Mitigate | To make something less severe | Alleviate, ease, diminish |
| Safeguard | To protect from harm | Protect, shield, defend |
| Entails | Involves as a necessary consequence | Involves, requires, necessitates |
| Hinder | To make progress difficult | Obstruct, impede, block |
| Offset | To counterbalance or make up for | Compensate, neutralize, counteract |
| Ecological preservation | Protecting natural environments and species |
Environmental protection, conservation |
| Profound | Very great or intense | Significant, deep, far-reaching |
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