Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-15
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 6.0)
Nowadays since the establishment of animals' rights organizations, a heated topic is being discussed, the necessity of zoos in urban areas. People argue that it is a form of cruelty on animals and all these captive facilities should be shut down immediately. I completely agree with this opinion and believe that witnessing wildlife in its natural form is the right way forward.
It feels exciting to watch a creature different than humans especially when it is kept at a safe distance, tamed and controlled.
Some say that this is the safest way of experiencing wildlife and to satisfy the curiosity without being harmed. However, for the animals inside a cage it is suffocating and torturous. Not only do their lifespan decreases, but also a real danger of widespread diseases exist. For example, in some poorly maintained city zoos, if an animal got sick and did not get proper treatment on time, the sickness spreads in the herd or neighboring animals.
Furthermore, these captive cages restrict an animal to live in its natural habitat and to practice its natural instinct. Animals like an elephant or a lion are born to roam freely in the jungles, it has been observed that sometimes they go across countries to find their pray and food. Limiting their movement severely affect their lifespan and health, making them fragile and ill. Instead, the natural parks and conservation forest areas are the best places to observe wildlife in its natural form.
In conclusion, it is entirely inhumane to keep a life captive in a cage for self-pleasure and entertainment and facilities like those should be shut down completely with encouri
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response clearly states a position in the introduction and maintains it throughout. The ideas regarding animal welfare and the benefits of natural habitats are relevant and well-supported. However, the essay ends abruptly mid-sentence, which constitutes a significant omission in the conclusion. While the main body paragraphs develop the argument effectively, the failure to complete the final sentence prevents the response from being fully developed. To reach a higher band, ensure that all parts of the essay, including the conclusion, are fully articulated and finished.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'Instead' are used to link ideas effectively. The progression of arguments is generally clear, moving from the counter-argument to the writer's main points. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the overall flow and cohesion of the final paragraph. The use of referencing is generally accurate, though some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall flow between sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language such as 'suffocating and torturous' and 'natural habitat'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'pray' instead of 'prey' and 'encouri' (incomplete word). The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that less common vocabulary is used accurately in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'their lifespan decreases' (subject-verb agreement), 'a real danger... exist' (subject-verb agreement), and 'limiting their movement severely affect' (subject-verb agreement). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The punctuation is generally functional, but the incomplete final sentence is a significant grammatical issue. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring subject-verb agreement would improve the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.