Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-07

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 5.5)

There's a strong debate on Zoo's to be closed permanently & all the animals should be put back in wildlife. I agree with the given statement and will provide my reasons in the following essay.

To begin with, animals life expectancy gradually decreases when they're kept in zoo. There was a famous documentary on Wildlife by 'Bear Grylls' , a renowned wildlife explorer who used to host the show 'ManVsWild' on the Discovery Channel. His documentary showcased a lifecycle difference of a tiger. In forest tigers are cautious all the time as they need to hunt for their livelihood, whereas in the zoo they become lazy and as their meal is fixed to a particular time. Masai Mara a well known tourist's destination is getting popular nowadays for its unique way of exploring wildlife on an open jeep.

Moreover, there are a few disadvantages- a few creature are getting extinct due to killing. For instance, in Columbia there were zero hippos back in 1990's. Afterwards, government started an initiative by importing 4 hippos from African wildlife. According to the reports of 2026, the current count is 400+. To preserve some species zoo's becomes a necessary source to keep them from getting extinct.

To recapitulate, without a doubt animals should be kept free in wildlife to balance the food chain. Every living creature has a right to live freely without any cage. There are few disadvantages to it. However, the advantages are overpowered.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt but fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you present a clear position, the development of ideas is inconsistent. For instance, the paragraph regarding hippos in Colombia seems to contradict your initial stance by arguing that zoos are a 'necessary source' for conservation, which confuses the reader. The argument lacks depth and logical consistency. To improve, ensure that your supporting points directly reinforce your thesis and provide more detailed explanations for your claims. The essay is slightly under-developed, and the contradictory nature of the second body paragraph prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a basic attempt at logical progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or misused. For example, the transition 'Moreover, there are a few disadvantages' is followed by an example that actually supports the existence of zoos, creating a logical disconnect rather than a cohesive argument. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences is somewhat choppy. To improve, focus on using transition words that accurately reflect the relationship between your ideas and ensure each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that supports your overall argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'life expectancy', 'renowned', and 'initiative'. However, there are several errors in word choice and collocation that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'animals life expectancy' (missing possessive), 'put back in wildlife' (should be 'the wild'), and 'zoo's becomes' (incorrect pluralization/verb agreement). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and ensuring correct word forms, particularly regarding plurals and possessives.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include missing articles ('in forest', 'in zoo'), incorrect verb forms ('Zoo's to be closed'), and punctuation errors. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors is noticeable and affects the overall fluency of the writing. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and the proper use of apostrophes for possession versus pluralization. Proofreading your work for these basic errors would significantly improve your score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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