Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-08-23

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 6.5)

In this sustainable world, there is a less need to have animals captivated in zoos, so certain people believe they should be closed. Although zoo is not a conservative option for keeping animals, yet I believe zoos should not be closed because it provides great care and shelter to the endangered species.

Proponents say zoos should be closed because of certain reasons. The prominent one is the unfairness for animals to be kept under captivation by humans. To elaborate more, humans have no right to change the way of living for animals because everyone should have the freedom to live as they desire. As people are becoming more sustainable towards nature, they believe keeping animals in zoos might hinder biological cycles such as food chain which might give a rise in animals starving and dying, or resulting in over-population of certain species.

However, I believe zoos are extremely beneficial for animals. First and foremost, they are being run by professionals who know how to take care of animals professionally. If animals in the zoo need any help, for example due to an injury or a health condition, the staff can provide aid to the animal responsibly. Also, it is helpful for the younger animals who do not know how to hunt and prevent themselves from other big animals. They have their routine check-ups, diets and socializing times.

Moreover, zoos are a great way for increasing the interactions between humans and animals. People like Ecologists can have direct contacts with animals to understand their daily behaviours. It helps them to keep the endangered species safe from the environments. Nature Specialists can observe their habits and improve the environment as per they need for their survival that can result in preventing the endangered animals from harsh conditions.

In conclusion, I believe zoos should not be closed as they provide better care to certain species of animals, but still the number of zoos should be balanced with more natural wildlife centuries that does not impact the surroundings where animals usually live.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the task and maintained a clear position throughout. The essay is well-structured, with a balanced approach that acknowledges the opposing view before presenting your own. However, some ideas could be developed further. For instance, your point about 'biological cycles' is a bit vague and could benefit from a more concrete example of how zoos specifically disrupt these. Your argument regarding the benefits of zoos is clear, but ensure that your supporting examples, such as the role of 'Ecologists', are directly linked to the core argument of animal welfare to strengthen your overall position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'First and foremost' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. To reach a higher band, focus on improving the flow between sentences within paragraphs. Some transitions feel slightly mechanical; try to vary your linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'they', 'these') is always precise to avoid any ambiguity regarding which noun is being referred to.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'endangered species', 'daily behaviours', and 'harsh conditions' are used effectively. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'captivated in zoos' (should be 'kept in captivity') and 'wildlife centuries' (likely meant 'sanctuaries'). These minor errors do not impede communication, but they do limit your ability to convey more nuanced meanings. Expanding your vocabulary to include more academic collocations would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, such as 'zoo is not a conservative option' (likely meant 'conservation') and 'as per they need' (should be 'as per their needs'). Additionally, there are some issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While these errors rarely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for small grammatical slips and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence forms with greater accuracy.

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.