This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of low cost airlines from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Low Cost Airlines

The increasing availability of low-cost airlines now lets people travel around the world. Some feel this is a positive development while others think it is negative overall.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

The rise of low-cost airlines has made it possible for the public at large to travel abroad with relative ease. In my opinion, despite the advantages this creates for less affluent citizens, it is a net negative given the repercussions of the tourist industry to local nations.

One positive aspect of this development is the increased accessibility of travel. In the past, air travel was mainly reserved for the wealthy and the middle class, however, with the advent of low-cost airlines, even those on a more limited budget can afford to go on vacation domestically or to foreign countries. For example, a round-trip flight from London to Barcelona can now be purchased for as little as £20, making it possible for even students and young adults to explore new places. This equitable phenomenon is particularly valuable in less developed nations where in past generations only the truly wealthy could afford to travel regularly.

Nonetheless, the expansion of low-cost airlines has also led to issues of overcrowding and overtourism in certain destinations. For example, locales like Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Boracay in the Philippines have struggled to cope with the influx of domestic and international tourists, leading to concerns about the impact on local communities and cultural heritage. Many of these communities now almost exclusively cater to tourism and there is less interest in older means of making a living, such as by producing a local handicraft or traditional garment. This has led to calls for more sustainable tourism practices and greater regulation of the industry to ensure that it benefits and sustains local communities.

In conclusion, although increased accessibility is an equitable development, it has also contributed to issues of overcrowding and overtourism. It is important for the aviation industry and governments to collaborate to address these negative impacts while continuing to make travel available to a wider range of residents.

Analysis

1. The rise of low-cost airlines has made it possible for the public at large to travel abroad with relative ease. 2. In my opinion, despite the advantages this creates for less affluent citizens, it is a net negative given the repercussions of the tourist industry to local nations.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. One positive aspect of this development is the increased accessibility of travel. 2. In the past, air travel was mainly reserved for the wealthy and the middle class, however, with the advent of low-cost airlines, even those on a more limited budget can afford to go on vacation domestically or to foreign countries. 3. For example, a round-trip flight from London to Barcelona can now be purchased for as little as £20, making it possible for even students and young adults to explore new places. 4. This equitable phenomenon is particularly valuable in less developed nations where in past generations only the truly wealthy could afford to travel regularly.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.

1. Nonetheless, the expansion of low-cost airlines has also led to issues of overcrowding and overtourism in certain destinations. 2. For example, locales like Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Boracay in the Philippines have struggled to cope with the influx of domestic and international tourists, leading to concerns about the impact on local communities and cultural heritage. 3. Many of these communities now almost exclusively cater to tourism and there is less interest in older means of making a living, such as by producing a local handicraft or traditional garment. 4. This has led to calls for more sustainable tourism practices and greater regulation of the industry to ensure that it benefits and sustains local communities.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.

1. In conclusion, although increased accessibility is an equitable development, it has also contributed to issues of overcrowding and overtourism. 2. It is important for the aviation industry and governments to collaborate to address these negative impacts while continuing to make travel available to a wider range of residents.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The rise of low-cost airlines has made it possible for the public at large to travel abroad with relative ease. In my opinion, despite the advantages this creates for less affluent citizens, it is a net negative given the repercussions of the tourist industry to local nations.

One positive aspect of this development is the increased accessibility of travel. In the past, air travel was mainly reserved for the wealthy and the middle class, however, with the advent of low-cost airlines, even those on a more limited budget can afford to go on vacation domestically or to foreign countries. For example, a round-trip flight from London to Barcelona can now be purchased for as little as £20, making it possible for even students and young adults to explore new places. This equitable phenomenon is particularly valuable in less developed nations where in past generations only the truly wealthy could afford to travel regularly.

Nonetheless, the expansion of low-cost airlines has also led to issues of overcrowding and overtourism in certain destinations. For example, locales like Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Boracay in the Philippines have struggled to cope with the influx of domestic and international tourists, leading to concerns about the impact on local communities and cultural heritage. Many of these communities now almost exclusively cater to tourism and there is less interest in older means of making a living, such as by producing a local handicraft or traditional garment. This has led to calls for more sustainable tourism practices and greater regulation of the industry to ensure that it benefits and sustains local communities.

In conclusion, although increased accessibility is an equitable development, it has also contributed to issues of overcrowding and overtourism. It is important for the aviation industry and governments to collaborate to address these negative impacts while continuing to make travel available to a wider range of residents.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

rise of low-cost airlines increase in the number of cheap flights

made it possible for allow for

public at large people in general

travel abroad with relative ease go to other countries easily

despite regardless of

less affluent citizens poorer people

net negative given the repercussions of bad overall because of the effects on

tourist industry to local nations hotels, restaurants, etc. to other countries

One positive aspect of this development is a good part of this trend is

increased accessibility of travel easier to travel around

In the past before

mainly reserved for the wealthy and the middle class mostly only for rich people

advent beginning

more limited budget can afford not as much money can pay for

vacation domestically or to foreign countries holiday in the country to go abroad

round-trip flight from … to … back and forth flight to … and …

purchased for as little as bought for very little

making it possible for allowing for

explore new places finding new locations

equitable phenomenon is particularly valuable equal situation is especially important

where in past generations in the past

truly wealthy very rich people

regularly usually, often

Nonetheless however

expansion growing

overcrowding too many people there

overtourism in certain destinations too many people visiting some places

locales places

struggled to cope with the influx of domestic and international tourists had a tough time dealing with all the people coming there

leading to concerns about causing issues related to

local communities places nearby

cultural heritage your art, food, clothes, etc.

exclusively cater to only serve

less interest in not as much care for

means of making a living way of earning money

producing a local handicraft or traditional garment making an object or clothes

led to calls for created people asking for

sustainable tourism practices long-term tourist industry

greater regulation of more control over

ensure make sure of

sustains local communities keeps communities alive

although increased accessibility is however more access is

equitable development equal situation

contributed to issues of overcrowding and overtourism added to problems related to too many people and tourists

aviation industry flights

collaborate work with

negative impacts bad effects

make travel available to a wider range of residents allow for more average people to travel

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

raɪz ɒv ləʊ-kɒst ˈeəlaɪnz 
meɪd ɪt ˈpɒsəbᵊl fɔː 
ˈpʌblɪk æt lɑːʤ 
ˈtrævᵊl əˈbrɔːd wɪð ˈrɛlətɪv iːz 
dɪsˈpaɪt 
lɛs ˈæflʊənt ˈsɪtɪzᵊnz 
nɛt ˈnɛɡətɪv ˈɡɪvᵊn ðə ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃᵊnz ɒv 
ˈtʊərɪst ˈɪndəstri tuː ˈləʊkᵊl ˈneɪʃᵊnz 
wʌn ˈpɒzətɪv ˈæspɛkt ɒv ðɪs dɪˈvɛləpmənt ɪz 
ɪnˈkriːst əkˌsɛsəˈbɪləti ɒv ˈtrævᵊl 
ɪn ðə pɑːst 
ˈmeɪnli rɪˈzɜːvd fɔː ðə ˈwɛlθi ænd ðə ˈmɪdᵊl klɑːs 
ˈædvənt 
mɔː ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˈbʌʤɪt kæn əˈfɔːd 
vəˈkeɪʃᵊn dəʊˈmɛstɪkᵊli ɔː tuː ˈfɒrən ˈkʌntriz 
raʊnd-trɪp flaɪt frɒm … tuː …
ˈpɜːʧəst fɔːr æz ˈlɪtᵊl æz 
ˈmeɪkɪŋ ɪt ˈpɒsəbᵊl fɔː 
ɪksˈplɔː njuː ˈpleɪsɪz 
ˈɛkwɪtəbᵊl fəˈnɒmɪnən ɪz pəˈtɪkjələli ˈvæljəbᵊl 
weər ɪn pɑːst ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃᵊnz 
ˈtruːli ˈwɛlθi 
ˈrɛɡjələli 
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs 
ɪksˈpænʃᵊn 
ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪŋ 
ˌəʊvəˈtʊərɪzᵊm ɪn ˈsɜːtᵊn ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃᵊnz 
ləʊˈkɑːlz 
ˈstrʌɡᵊld tuː kəʊp wɪð ði ˈɪnflʌks ɒv dəʊˈmɛstɪk ænd ˌɪntəˈnæʃᵊnᵊl ˈtʊərɪsts 
ˈliːdɪŋ tuː kənˈsɜːnz əˈbaʊt 
ˈləʊkᵊl kəˈmjuːnətiz 
ˈkʌlʧᵊrᵊl ˈhɛrɪtɪʤ 
ɪksˈkluːsɪvli ˈkeɪtə tuː 
lɛs ˈɪntrɛst ɪn 
miːnz ɒv ˈmeɪkɪŋ ə ˈlɪvɪŋ 
prəˈdjuːsɪŋ ə ˈləʊkᵊl ˈhændɪkrɑːft ɔː trəˈdɪʃᵊnᵊl ˈɡɑːmənt 
lɛd tuː kɔːlz fɔː 
səsˈteɪnəbᵊl ˈtʊərɪzᵊm ˈpræktɪsɪz 
ˈɡreɪtə ˌrɛɡjəˈleɪʃᵊn ɒv 
ɪnˈʃʊə 
səsˈteɪnz ˈləʊkᵊl kəˈmjuːnətiz 
ɔːlˈðəʊ ɪnˈkriːst əkˌsɛsəˈbɪləti ɪz 
ˈɛkwɪtəbᵊl dɪˈvɛləpmənt 
kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd tuː ˈɪʃuːz ɒv ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪŋ ænd ˌəʊvəˈtʊərɪzᵊm 
ˌeɪvɪˈeɪʃᵊn ˈɪndəstri 
kəˈlæbəreɪt 
ˈnɛɡətɪv ˈɪmpækts 
meɪk ˈtrævᵊl əˈveɪləbᵊl tuː ə ˈwaɪdə reɪnʤ ɒv ˈrɛzɪdənts 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The r____________________________s has m____________________r the p___________e to t_____________________________e. In my opinion, d_______e the advantages this creates for l_____________________s, it is a n___________________________________f the t_______________________________s.

O______________________________________________s the i________________________________l. I____________t, air travel was m_____________________________________________________s, however, with the a________t of low-cost airlines, even those on a m___________________________________d to go on v______________________________________s. For example, a r______________________m London t___ Barcelona can now be p_________________________________s £20, m_______________________r even students and young adults to e___________________________s. This e____________________________e in less developed nations w______________________________s only the t_______________y could afford to travel r__________y.

N______________s, the e_____________n of low-cost airlines has also led to issues of o____________g and o____________________________________s. For example, l________s like Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Boracay in the Philippines have s______________________________________________________________s, l__________________________t the impact on l___________________s and c_______________e. Many of these communities now almost e_________________o tourism and there is l______________n older m_______________________g, such as by p__________________________________________________________t. This has l___________________r more s_________________________________s and g___________________f the industry to e_________e that it benefits and s__________________________s.

In conclusion, a___________________________________s an e_________________________t, it has also c____________________________________________m. It is important for the a________________y and governments to c________________e to address these n________________s while continuing to m__________________________________________________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines 2023

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Flying

1. Are there many airlines in your country?
2. Have you ever flown anywhere?
3. Where would you like to fly?
4. Are you scared of flying?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Nowadays many people travel to foreign countries for pleasure. Some believe this travel has a negative impact on the countries travelled to.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Travelling for Pleasure