Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-01

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

We no longer need to have animals kept in zoos, so zoos should be closed.

Do you agree or disagree?

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

Student answer (Band 7.5)

It is argued by some that keeping animals in zoo is an outdated practice and that all such institutions should be permanently shut down. While there are valid regarding animal welfare and confinement ,I disagree with the complete closure of zoos. I believe that modern zoos still play a vital role in species conservation, scientific research, and public education.

On the one hand, opponents of zoos argue that locking wild animals in cages is inherently cruel and unnatural. In captivity, animals are often restricted to confined spaces that bear little resemblance to their vast natural habitats. This lack of freedom can lead to severe psychological stress, boredom, and abnormal behaviors, commonly referred to as 'zoochosis'. For instance, large predators like lions and polar bears, which naturally roam across miles of territory every day, frequently pace back and forth in their enclosures due to frustration. Therefore, from a purely ethical standpoint, keeping animals for human entertainment is difficult to justify.

On the other hand, modern, zoos have envolved from mere exhibition sites into crucial Centers for wildlife preservation. One of their most significant contributions is the implementation of captive breeding programs of endangered species. Animals like the giant panda and the California candor have been saved from the brink of extinction through careful breeding in zoos and subsequent reintroduction into the wild. Furthermore. zoos provide a rare opportunity for urban populations to connect with nature. Seeing an animal in person fosters a sense of empathy and awareness that books or documentaries cannot replicate ,inspiring the public to support global conservation efforts.

In conclusion, although the confinement of wild animals raises undeniable ethical issues, completely, shutting down zoos would do more harm than good for global biodiversity. Instead of closing them, governments should enforce stricter regulations to ensure that all zoos prioritize animal welfare ,conservation, and education over commercial profit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have clearly addressed all parts of the prompt, maintaining a consistent position throughout the essay. Your arguments regarding both the ethical concerns of zoos and their role in conservation are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of the giant panda and California condor. The response is balanced, acknowledging the opposing view before providing a reasoned counter-argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that your conclusion explicitly summarizes the main points of your argument rather than just suggesting a future policy, though your current conclusion is effective in reinforcing your stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore'. The transition between the ethical concerns and the conservation benefits is smooth. However, there are minor issues with punctuation and spacing, such as the unnecessary comma in 'completely, shutting down' and the period before 'zoos provide'. Improving the precision of your punctuation would make the flow even more professional and seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'outdated practice', 'inherently cruel', 'zoochosis', and 'brink of extinction' appropriately. This shows an ability to use less common lexical items with some awareness of style. There are a few minor errors, such as 'envolved' (evolved) and 'candor' (condor), which are likely slips rather than a lack of knowledge. To improve, ensure you proofread for these small spelling errors, as they slightly detract from the overall sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a variety of complex structures, such as conditional-like reasoning and relative clauses, which shows good control. Most sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'keeping animals in zoo' (missing an article: 'a zoo' or 'zoos') and 'valid regarding' (missing a noun: 'valid concerns regarding'). Despite these occasional errors, your control over complex sentence forms is strong, and the errors do not impede communication at all.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.