Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-12

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 7.0)

It has always been a matter of debate whether we should keep animals in zoos or zoos should be closed. Releasing all the animals in habitat can cause extinction of many species because of habitat destruction, illegal hunting and global warming. I certainly agree with the concept of keeping animals in zoos, because it helps us in protecting endangered species.

The natural habitat of flora and fauna is getting destroyed by humans because of increasing urbanization and industrialization. This affects the food and life cycle of plants and animals and slowly leads to extinction. Similarly, poaching and illegal hunting of animals for their skin and other parts is also at an alarming rate. For instance, in Kenya, more than 30 elephants are killed by poachers every year for their tusks. In order to save elephants from poachers, the forest department cuts their tusks at a young age. Moreover, pollution is also one of the major reasons for the decline in many essential plant and animal species.

In my viewpoint, keeping animals in zoos is the best practice to save them from extinction. Government should run awareness campaigns to educate people regarding such vulnerable species of animals, so everyone could contribute in saving them. For example, in 2008, there were only 10 Bengal tigers left on earth, but with the proper conservation and planning of keeping them in confined and restricted area changed those numbers to 128 in the year 2025.

To sum up, due to the increasing urbanization and pollution, the risk of extinction is high for both plant and animal species. Consequently, in order to save them, it is better to keep them in zoos with proper care and natural habitat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided relevant reasons for your stance, such as the protection of endangered species from poaching and habitat loss. The ideas are generally well-developed, though the example regarding the Bengal tiger population in 2025 is speculative and slightly weakens the argument's credibility. To improve, ensure that your supporting examples are grounded in verifiable facts or logical generalisations. Overall, the response is focused and directly answers the question, demonstrating a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'Moreover', and 'Consequently' to link your points effectively. However, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the flow between sentences. For instance, the link between the poaching of elephants and the subsequent mention of pollution is a bit abrupt. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical flow is maintained throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'increasing urbanization', 'alarming rate', and 'vulnerable species' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'releasing all the animals in habitat' (should be 'into their natural habitat') and 'confined and restricted area' (which is slightly redundant). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, there is room for more sophisticated collocations to reach a higher band. The vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are occasional grammatical errors, such as 'everyone could contribute in saving them' (should be 'contribute to saving') and 'the risk of extinction is high for both plant and animal species' (which is grammatically correct but could be phrased more naturally). Punctuation is generally accurate, and your meaning is always clear. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, with greater precision to demonstrate higher control.

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