Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-04

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 6.0)

Nowadays, several people think that zoos are no longer necessary and should be banned because animals should live in their natural habitats. I partly agree with this opinion because good zoos play a significant role in protecting animals and educating the public.

On the one hand, it is true that keeping animals in cages not ideal. Wild animals need larger spaces to move freely and behave naturally. In some zoos, animals may feel stressed or lonely because they are far from their natural environment. For instance, lions and elephants cannot enjoy the same freedom in a zoo as they can enjoy in the wild. Therefore, poor-quality zoos should be closed.

Secondly, many modern zoos help protect endangered species. They prove medical facilities, safe place for breeding, and food for animals that may not survive in the wild. In addition, zoos teach children and adults about wildlife and the importance of protecting animals. For instance, after visiting zoos, many students become more interested in animal conversation. Some zoos also rescue injured animals and release them back into wildlife when possible.

In my opinion, closing zoos would not be the best solution, governments should improve zoo conditions and make sure that animals receive proper medication and care. Zoos that fail to meet animal welfare standards should close, while responsible zoos should continue their work.

In conclusion, although some zoos treat animals badly, I believe that well managed zoos are still useful for conservation, education and protecting endangered animals. Therefore, I disagree that all zoos should be closed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have clearly addressed all parts of the prompt by presenting a balanced view and maintaining a consistent position throughout the essay. Your introduction clearly states your partial agreement, and the body paragraphs provide relevant reasons for both sides of the argument. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between poor-quality zoos and those that contribute to conservation and education. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, real-world examples of successful conservation programs or specific zoo-based research to further strengthen your arguments, as some points remain slightly general in their application.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use transition signals such as 'On the one hand', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different facets of your argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that referencing between sentences is more seamless to avoid a repetitive structure in your transition phrases.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'natural habitats', 'endangered species', and 'welfare standards' correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and word-choice issues, such as 'prove medical facilities' (should be 'provide') and 'animal conversation' (likely meant 'conservation'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring that your word choices are contextually accurate, especially when discussing technical topics like animal welfare.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and easy to follow. However, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'keeping animals in cages not ideal' (missing the verb 'is') and 'release them back into wildlife' (should be 'the wild'). Additionally, there is a comma splice in the fourth paragraph: 'closing zoos would not be the best solution, governments should...'. While these errors do not significantly hinder understanding, they prevent the essay from reaching the higher bands where error-free complex structures are more frequent.

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

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