Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS General Essentials · 2026-09-18

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 the contemporary world, zoos are becoming a well-known topic. Many argue that zoos are no longer needed and should be closed. However, I disagree with this idea because zoos can protect endangered animals and help people to learn about wildlife.

Firstly, zoos can protect animals that are in danger of disappearing. Today, many animals are losing their shelter because of deforestation and pollution in the environment. In zoos, animals can get shelter, food, medication, and protection. Zoos can help animals reproduce and increase their numbers. For example, some zoos have breeding programs for pandas, which can help to increase the number of that kind of endangered animal.

Moreover, zoos can help children with education. Many juveniles cannot see some animals in their daily life, so zoos are a place for children to learn more about them. When they visit a zoo, they learn more about their food and behaviour habits. For instance, a child who sees an elephant in the zoo may become more interested in protecting animals like elephants.

However, some zoos have small places for animals where they cannot move as freely as in their natural habitats. Some zoos sell their animals for entertainment purposes, such as circuses and dramas. In some zoos, animals are not getting their proper meals and freedom. For example, elephants in zoos have no freedom to roam around their habitats because the cages are too small for them. For these reasons, the government should take some action to shut down these kinds of zoos.

In conclusion, even though natural habitats are the places where animals belong, zoos offer more benefits for animals as well as people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response clearly addresses all parts of the task by taking a distinct position that zoos should not be closed, supporting this stance with relevant arguments. The writer explores the benefits of zoos in terms of animal conservation and educational value for children, while also acknowledging counterarguments concerning poor conditions in some facilities. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as breeding programs for pandas and the impact of seeing animals on children. Although some points could be explored with even greater depth, the position is clear throughout, and all core requirements of the prompt are fully covered. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and a discernible progression throughout the response. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to supporting arguments, a counterargument paragraph, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the text, although referencing is at times slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is utilised sufficiently and appropriately. While the overall logical flow is good, the somewhat formulaic transitions prevent it from reaching the higher band levels where cohesion is more subtle and flexible.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The writer uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'contemporary world', 'endangered animals', 'deforestation', and 'breeding programs' demonstrate sufficient flexibility and precision. There are occasional less common items attempted, alongside some minor word-choice and collocation issues, such as 'many juveniles cannot see' instead of 'many children or youngsters', or 'small places' instead of 'confined enclosures'. However, spelling and word formation are accurate, and the lexical choices communicate the intended meaning clearly without impeding the reader's understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with good control demonstrated over basic structures and frequent error-free sentences. Complex structures are attempted with varying degrees of success, such as conditional and relative clauses ('a child who sees an elephant in the zoo may become more interested'). There are minor grammatical inaccuracies, such as prepositions ('in their daily life' instead of 'in their daily lives') and articles, but these errors are infrequent and rarely impede communication. Punctuation is generally well managed, supporting the overall readability of the essay.

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