Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-07-31

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 7.0)

There is no longer a need to keep animals in zoos, hence zoos should no longer be operated. I completely disagree with this notion as zoos are needed to prevent some rare species from extinction and these are a sources of income for many individuals.

Some specific animal species are currently on the verge of extinction and to save these species a safer environment is needed. To expound, due to unavailability of food and extreme weather conditions, some particular animal species are not safe in their natural habitats. In zoos, these animals can be provided with food and favourable living conditions to keep them safe. For example, some species of penguins are kept in zoos in an artificial cold atmosphere, where they can survive and procreate.

Another reason to keep zoos open is that they are providing employment to a large proportion of individuals. A huge staff is required to run a zoo, and if it is decided to close all zoos, then a large number of people may become unemployed. For instance, there are more than 10 zoos only in Sydney, and closing these places may result in unemployment for all these people who are currently working there. Therefore, it not practical to shut down all the zoos. Moreover, it may also be difficult to find a place for all the animals who are living in those zoos. They are all brought there from different countries and places, making it almost impossible to put them back in their natural habitats.

To conclude, I strongly disagree with this suggestion as it is impractical and difficult to implement. Closing them will affect the life of several living humans and animals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response clearly addresses the prompt and maintains a consistent position throughout. You have provided two main arguments: the role of zoos in conservation and the economic impact of their closure. These ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the mention of penguins and the employment situation in Sydney. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are fully developed; for instance, the point about the difficulty of reintroducing animals to the wild is a strong one that could have been expanded further to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in animal welfare and conservation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'To expound', 'For instance', and 'Moreover' to link your ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between the economic argument and the logistical difficulty of reintroducing animals could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, which is a hallmark of a Band 7 response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'procreate', 'impractical', and 'natural habitats' effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'these are a sources of income' (should be 'a source' or 'sources') and 'it not practical' (missing 'is'). While you use some topic-specific vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and less common lexical items to demonstrate a higher level of precision and stylistic awareness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective. However, there are several grammatical slips throughout the text, such as 'these are a sources of income' and 'it not practical'. Additionally, some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'a large proportion of individuals' when referring to zoo staff. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and ensuring all auxiliary verbs are present will help improve your accuracy.

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