Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-07-29

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 8.0)

There is an ongoing debate surrounding animals being kept in zoos. Many believe that animals do not have to be contained in zoo enclosures anymore and zoos should stop operating. I partially agree with the statement as most zoos focus on human entertainment, but zoos can also be extremely important in saving endangered species.

The core reason for agreeing with the statement is the fact that zoos play a major role in saving animal species that are at the brink of extinction. Sometimes climate or habitat changes can lead to animals not breeding in unfavourable conditions which can cause dramatic fall in the number of those species. Many zoos can help in keeping the endangered species in captivity, where animals can be kept safe from any predators. This way such species can be provided favourable environmental conditions to breed again. Furthermore, many animals can sustain injuries beyond repair; such animals are kept in zoos because they cannot survive in the wild. For example, a horse species was once declared extinct. But later the only two surviving wild horses from that specie were found and were bred in zoos. Their population has grown significantly and now these horses have been released back into the wild.

The reason for partially agreeing with the statement is the fact that zoos violate many of the moral and ethical frameworks as their primary purpose is human entertainment. Many wild animals have predatory instincts which is why it is necessary for them to hunt for prey. In zoos, wild animals are fed food instead which goes against the nature. Additionally, many wild animals such as chimpanzees and elephants are social animals and they live within organized groups. Confining these social animals to isolated enclosures can cause emotional distress. Wild animals also need a large space to live which is not the case in zoos. Several incidents have occured where animals kept in zoos have displayed depressive or aggressive behaviours in captivity. A well-known example is of an orca which was separated from its family and kept in a small enclosure at Sea World. The orca ended up drowning and killing one of its trainers after experiencing extreme depression and isolation.

Keeping both views in mind, I partially agree with the given statement. I believe that wild animals should be left alone in the wild to live in their natural habitat, unless they are endangered or cannot survive in the wild due to injuries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout. You effectively balance the arguments for and against zoos, providing relevant examples such as the wild horse conservation and the Sea World incident. The ideas are well-developed and supported with logical reasoning. To reach a higher band, ensure that your conclusion explicitly synthesises the main points rather than just restating your position, as this would provide a more comprehensive final summary of your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Additionally', and 'Keeping both views in mind' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sides of the argument. The flow is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'brink of extinction', 'unfavourable conditions', and 'moral and ethical frameworks' show a good command of topic-specific language. There are occasional minor issues with word choice, such as 'from that specie' (should be 'species') and 'fed food' (which is slightly redundant). However, these do not impede communication and you successfully use less common items to convey your ideas clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. You demonstrate good control over grammar, with many error-free sentences. There are a few minor slips, such as 'incidents have occured' (spelling: 'occurred') and 'example is of an orca' (slightly awkward phrasing). However, these errors are infrequent and do not interfere with the clarity of your message. Your use of punctuation is generally accurate, supporting the overall readability of the response.

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