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)

Some people believe that we do not need to keep animals in zoos anymore, so zoos should be closed. I strongly disagree with this opinion because giving animals freedom can endanger humans and harm animals' habitat. It also helps scientists perform wildlife research on different species.

Firstly, zoos help to protect humans from dangerous animals. Many dangerous animals, such as lions, tigers, crocodiles, and venomous snakes, when allowed to roam in the open world, might kill human beings. Recently, many crocodiles came out of the river in one of the states in India due to heavy floods, which killed many children and women. Secondly, zoos help protect the endangered species from extinction. In the 19th century, many of the animal species became extinct because they were killed by other animals and by humans. Humans kill animals to get their body parts, such as elephant tusks, the skin of the crocodile, and so on. They sell this to vendors to get a huge amount of money.

Additionally, zoos encourage many scientists to carry out wildlife research. If animals cannot be observed and studied, this research cannot be carried out. For example, Dr. Harry Parker and other researchers study animals in detail to learn about their behaivour and reproduction. Furthermore, animals can live longer in zoos than in forests. Several animals die due to various diseases, but in zoos, doctors cure the disease by providing medicines to them. In addition, animals living in forests sometimes die due to hunger, and this situation is not created in zoos.

In conclusion, although closing zoos might have certain benefits. I strongly believe that zoos should exist to provide a better life for animals and protect humans from venomous species. It also helps to discover more about their behavior and reproduction.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments are relevant, such as the role of zoos in conservation and scientific research. However, some ideas are slightly under-developed; for instance, the claim that zoos protect humans from dangerous animals is a somewhat simplistic argument for the existence of zoos. The example regarding crocodiles in India is relevant but could be more tightly linked to the necessity of zoos. Overall, the response is well-structured and the position is consistent, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0. I have awarded a 6.5 as the depth of argumentation could be further extended to reach the higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, such as human safety, species protection, and scientific research. Cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Additionally', and 'Furthermore' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the referencing could be more sophisticated. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, which aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey ideas clearly, including terms like 'extinction', 'venomous', 'reproduction', and 'wildlife research'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'open world' instead of 'the wild' and 'doctors cure the disease' (veterinarians would be more precise). While the range is adequate for the task, it lacks the more sophisticated, less common lexical items required for a higher band. The spelling is generally accurate, with the exception of 'behaivour'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. For example, 'Many dangerous animals... when allowed to roam... might kill human beings' is a well-constructed complex sentence. However, there are occasional minor errors, such as the sentence fragment in the conclusion: 'although closing zoos might have certain benefits. I strongly believe...'. Despite these slips, the majority of sentences are error-free, supporting a Band 6.5 score.

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

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