Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-10

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)

Some people believe that zoos are no longer necessary and should be closed. I disagree with this opinion because zoos can protect endangered animals and educate people about wildlife.

Firstly, zoos can provide a safe environment for animals that don't survive outside zoos . Many animals face problems such as hunting, habitat loss and lack of food. In a well managed zoo, animals can get proper food, medical treatment and procetion from dangerous situtations. therefore, closing all zoos could putt some animals life at huge risk.

Secondly , zoos are useful for educating people, especially children. When people see animals closely, they can learn more about that and also understand their importance. Moreover this can encourage more people to do care about animals and nature. In zoo all animals feel safe and have good life and stress free. Some animals may not know how to get food food or protect themselves beacuse they have lived under human care for a long time.

In conclusion , I disgree that all zoos should be closed . Although animals should always be treated properly, well managed zoos can play important role in protecting endangered species and educating the public . Therefore closing z0oos goverment should make sure that they follow high animal welfare standards.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against closing zoos. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the main points regarding conservation and education are relevant, they are not fully developed. The conclusion introduces a new, slightly contradictory idea about government standards rather than summarizing the main points. Due to the failure to meet the length requirement and the resulting lack of depth, the response is limited to a Band 5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In conclusion'). Additionally, there are some issues with referencing, such as 'that' in 'learn more about that', which lacks a clear antecedent. Paragraphing is present, but the overall flow is slightly hindered by the brevity of the content.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their opinion clearly. There are some spelling errors, such as 'procetion', 'situtations', 'putt', 'beacuse', and 'z0oos'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'good life' and 'safe'. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more precise and varied vocabulary related to animal welfare and environmental science.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('In zoo'), incorrect verb forms ('do care about'), and punctuation issues (extra spaces before commas). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable throughout the text. The sentence structures are generally functional but lack the variety and control required for a higher band score.

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

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