Some people think that air travel should be reduced because it causes a lot of pollution and uses up too much of the world's energy. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Stance: I will argue that while air travel does contribute to pollution, its reduction is not the most effective solution; instead, the focus should be on technological advancements and policy changes that promote sustainable aviation.
This answer stays fully correct throughout but relies on short, mostly compound sentences joined with 'However' and 'If', develops each point with a single personal example, and uses safe, general vocabulary like 'a lot of energy' instead of precise collocations.
Some people believe that we should reduce air travel because it causes pollution and uses a lot of energy. I disagree with this idea. Although air travel does pollute the environment, I think reducing flights is not the best solution. Instead, we should focus on new technology and better policies to make air travel more sustainable.
It is true that air travel produces a large amount of greenhouse gases and uses a lot of energy. However, flying also connects people, businesses and cultures around the world, and this connection is growing fast in Vietnam, where domestic flights now link Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City every day. In my own job as an operations supervisor for a retail company, I often need to work with suppliers in other provinces, and this is only possible quickly because of air travel. If we simply reduced flights, it would slow down economic growth and make it harder for people and businesses to stay connected.
A better solution is to invest in greener technology and more sustainable infrastructure. This is similar to what has happened in city planning. For example, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè canal, which used to be very polluted, was cleaned up and now has paths for walking and cycling. I now cycle along this canal to reach my bus stop every day, instead of using my motorbike. This kind of improvement has made life better for local people and also created new cafés and businesses nearby. The same idea, investing in better systems instead of simply cutting activity, could also work for the aviation industry.
In conclusion, although air travel does affect the environment, reducing flights is too simple a solution. It would be better to develop sustainable aviation fuel, make planes more efficient, and build eco-friendly infrastructure so that people can keep travelling without damaging the environment as much.
Collocations
Examiner Notes
- TR“I disagree with this idea.” — A short, direct statement of the writer's position placed early, which the rest of the essay is built to support.
- CC“However, flying also connects people, businesses and cultures around the world” — The basic contrast marker 'However' correctly signals the pivot from acknowledging pollution to the writer's counter-argument.
- LR“produces a large amount of greenhouse gases and uses a lot of energy” — Accurate but plain, high-frequency vocabulary; correct and clear, but without the more precise collocations used at higher bands.
- GRA“If we simply reduced flights, it would slow down economic growth and make it harder for people and businesses to stay connected.” — A correctly formed second conditional sentence expressing a hypothetical consequence.
- TR“It would be better to develop sustainable aviation fuel, make planes more efficient, and build eco-friendly infrastructure so that people can keep travelling without damaging the environment as much.” — The conclusion offers a concrete alternative solution rather than simply repeating the introduction.
This answer reaches 7.0 through stronger collocations like 'greenhouse gas emissions' and 'eco-friendly transport' and a well-controlled participial clause in each body paragraph, but the reasoning stays single-stranded compared with the 7.5 answer's layered concession-plus-rebuttal-plus-example structure.
The idea that air travel should be cut back because of its pollution and heavy energy use is becoming more common. While I accept that aviation does have a real environmental impact, I disagree that reducing flights is the most effective response. A better focus would be on developing sustainable alternatives and encouraging technological progress within the industry.
It cannot be denied that commercial aviation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and consumes large amounts of energy. However, calling for a widespread reduction ignores the important role air travel plays in trade, cultural exchange and personal relationships, a role that is expanding quickly in Vietnam, where domestic airlines now connect Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City multiple times a day. As an operations supervisor for a retail chain, I regularly need to coordinate with suppliers in different provinces, and this is only efficient because of air transport. Cutting back on flights would therefore not only slow economic development but also weaken the exchange of ideas that benefits communities across the country.
A more useful approach would be to invest in cleaner aviation technology and stronger, sustainable infrastructure, similar to changes that have already transformed urban planning without reducing convenience. In Ho Chi Minh City, for example, the once heavily polluted Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè canal was rehabilitated into a nine-kilometre corridor with dedicated cycling and walking paths. I personally benefit from this, having switched from a motorbike to a bicycle for part of my daily commute. This change has improved local well-being and encouraged new riverside cafés and businesses, showing that large-scale investment can solve environmental problems while still improving quality of life, an approach that could equally apply to aviation.
In conclusion, although the environmental impact of air travel is a genuine concern, simply reducing flights is too simple a solution and could cause real harm. A more effective strategy would involve speeding up the development of sustainable aviation fuels, improving aircraft efficiency, and building infrastructure that supports eco-friendly transport, protecting the environment while keeping people connected.
Collocations
Examiner Notes
- TR“A better focus would be on developing sustainable alternatives and encouraging technological progress within the industry.” — A clear statement of the writer's position, though phrased more plainly than the direct 'I disagree that...rather' construction used at band 7.5.
- CC“It cannot be denied that commercial aviation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and consumes large amounts of energy. However, calling for a widespread reduction ignores the important role air travel plays” — A concessive 'It cannot be denied...However' pattern that acknowledges the opposing view before returning to the writer's argument, similar in function to the 7.5 answer's 'Undeniably...However'.
- LR“the exchange of ideas that benefits communities across the country” — A reasonably precise collocation for describing cultural benefit, solid but less vivid than the 7.5 answer's metaphorical 'cross-pollination of ideas'.
- GRA“This change has improved local well-being and encouraged new riverside cafés and businesses, showing that large-scale investment can solve environmental problems while still improving quality of life” — A trailing participial clause ('showing that...') links the personal example to a general claim, a correct but slightly less complex structure than the 7.5 answer's 'not only...but also' plus participial combination.
- TR“A more effective strategy would involve speeding up the development of sustainable aviation fuels, improving aircraft efficiency, and building infrastructure that supports eco-friendly transport, protecting the environment while keeping people connected.” — The conclusion offers a concrete, multi-part alternative solution, closely mirroring the structure of the 7.5 answer's conclusion.
The 7.5 answer stands out for its 'Undeniably...However' concessive pivot, the vivid metaphor 'cross-pollination of ideas', and a 'not only...but also' clause trailing into a participial phrase, all of which forge a tighter, more persuasive link between the personal anecdote and the general argument.
The assertion that air travel should be curtailed due to its significant environmental footprint and energy consumption is a viewpoint gaining traction. While I acknowledge the genuine ecological concerns associated with aviation, I disagree that a reduction in flights is the most pragmatic or effective solution; rather, the focus should be on fostering sustainable alternatives and technological innovation within the industry.
Undeniably, commercial aviation contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions and depletes finite energy reserves. However, advocating for a widespread reduction overlooks the intricate web of commerce, cultural exchange, and personal connections that air travel facilitates — a web that is expanding rapidly in Vietnam, where domestic carriers now connect Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City several times a day. My own role as an operations supervisor for a retail chain often requires me to coordinate with suppliers and partners across different provinces, a task made efficient only by the speed of air logistics. Curtailing this vital link would not only hinder economic growth but also impede the cross-pollination of ideas and cultures that enriches communities across the country.
A more forward-thinking approach involves investing in greener aviation technologies and developing robust, sustainable infrastructure. This mirrors the transformation seen in urban planning, where systemic changes yield significant environmental benefits without sacrificing utility. In Ho Chi Minh City, for example, the rehabilitation of the once-notoriously polluted Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè canal transformed a nine-kilometre stretch of the city into a corridor with dedicated cycling and walking paths. I personally benefit from this, having switched from riding a motorbike to cycling along the canal to my nearest bus stop for my daily commute. This infrastructure improvement has not only boosted local well-being but also fostered new riverside cafés and community businesses, demonstrating how smart, large-scale initiatives can effectively address environmental challenges while enhancing quality of life — a principle equally applicable to aviation.
In conclusion, although the environmental impact of air travel is a legitimate concern, simply reducing flights presents an overly simplistic and ultimately detrimental solution. A more sophisticated strategy involves accelerating the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuels, improving aircraft efficiency, and investing in infrastructure that supports eco-friendly transit, ensuring both environmental stewardship and continued connectivity.
Collocations
Examiner Notes
- TR“I disagree that a reduction in flights is the most pragmatic or effective solution; rather, the focus should be on fostering sustainable alternatives and technological innovation within the industry.” — A direct, unambiguous statement of the writer's position that the rest of the essay is built to support.
- CC“Undeniably, commercial aviation contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions and depletes finite energy reserves. However, advocating for a widespread reduction overlooks the intricate web of commerce, cultural exchange, and personal connections that air travel facilitates” — The concessive 'Undeniably...However' pattern acknowledges the opposing view before pivoting back to the writer's own argument.
- LR“the cross-pollination of ideas and cultures” — A vivid, precise metaphorical collocation that elevates the description of cultural exchange beyond generic vocabulary.
- GRA“This infrastructure improvement has not only boosted local well-being but also fostered new riverside cafés and community businesses, demonstrating how smart, large-scale initiatives can effectively address environmental challenges while enhancing quality of life” — A 'not only...but also' structure combined with a trailing participial clause shows controlled command of complex sentence forms.
- TR“A more sophisticated strategy involves accelerating the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuels, improving aircraft efficiency, and investing in infrastructure that supports eco-friendly transit, ensuring both environmental stewardship and continued connectivity.” — The conclusion offers a concrete, multi-part alternative solution rather than merely restating the introduction.