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Discussion (Discuss both views) Tourism and travel Task 2

More and more people prefer travelling by planes. What are advantages and disadvnatges of it?

A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan and what this question type is asking you to do.

The question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

More and more people prefer travelling by planes. What are advantages and disadvnatges of it?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

How to read this question

You are given two opposing views and asked to discuss both before giving your own. The single most common Band 6 cause here is discussing both sides but never stating your own opinion, or stating it only in the conclusion.

Paragraph plan

Introduction — Paraphrase the prompt, mention both sides briefly. No opinion needed for advantages/disadvantages essays.

Body 1 — Present the main advantages with explanation and specific examples.

Body 2 — Present the main disadvantages with explanation and specific examples.

Conclusion — Summarise both sides without forcing an opinion.

Model answer

Model answer

301 words

Air travel has become the preferred mode of long-distance transport for millions of people around the world. While flying offers undeniable benefits in terms of speed and global connectivity, it also carries significant drawbacks that deserve consideration.

The most obvious advantage of travelling by plane is the dramatic reduction in journey time. A trip from London to New York, which would take days by sea, can now be completed in under eight hours. This makes air travel indispensable for business professionals who need to attend international meetings at short notice. Beyond speed, modern aircraft offer a high level of passenger comfort, with airlines providing reclining seats, in-flight entertainment, and meals on longer routes. Furthermore, the expansion of global airline networks has made it far easier to reach destinations that were once inaccessible, opening opportunities for international study, employment, and tourism.

Despite these benefits, air travel has notable disadvantages. The most serious concern is safety: although commercial aviation has an excellent statistical safety record, accidents — when they do occur — are catastrophic, often resulting in mass casualties. This fear of flying remains a genuine barrier for a portion of the travelling public. Cost is another significant drawback. Airline tickets, particularly on popular routes during peak holiday periods, can be prohibitively expensive for low-income travellers, making air travel an option that is not equally accessible to all. Finally, aviation is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, and growing environmental awareness has led many people to question the sustainability of frequent flying.

In conclusion, travelling by plane offers considerable advantages, particularly in terms of speed, comfort, and access to global destinations. However, concerns about safety, high costs, and environmental impact represent real and legitimate downsides. The relative weight of these factors is likely to depend on the individual traveller's priorities and circumstances.

Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.

This is a discussion (discuss both views) question. The model answer above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.

That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.

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