Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-06

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 5.5)

A lot of individuals argue that zoos should be shut down as there is no requirement of keeping wildlife in zoos. I completely disagree with this notion as zoos are very crucial to protect the endangered species and to provide knowledge about wildlife to people.

The primary reason for this is to protect the species which are almost extinct. Zoos and wildlife sanctuaries provide an ambient protection and security to the species which is crucial for them to reproduce and save them from getting extinct. Moreover, due to food chain, zoos provide an ample amount of diet and medical facilities to species which helps with their overall well- being. For instance, Gir wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat, India supports the only Asian lion species in the world, which is on the verge of getting extinct.

Furthermore, zoos act as a source of information to the people about different varieties of birds and wild- animals. It acts as a source of knowledge for students and helps to educate them by observing the behavior of animals in zoo. Moreover, the funds collected from the visitors can be used for the overall maintenance of the zoos and to keep the wild- animals safely. Moreover, youngsters develop a sense of responsibility towards supporting environment by observing the behavior, habitat and survival of animals in the zoos and the wildlife sanctuaries.

In conclusion, zoos and wildlife sanctuaries provide a secure environment for the endangered species and acts as a source of information for people of all age groups.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position of disagreement. The ideas are relevant, focusing on conservation and education. However, the development is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding the 'food chain' is slightly unclear and could have been better explained in the context of zoo management. While the example of the Gir wildlife sanctuary is pertinent, the overall depth of the arguments could be improved by exploring the counter-arguments more thoroughly or providing more nuanced analysis of the role of modern zoos in conservation versus entertainment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'For instance' are used to link ideas. However, there is a tendency to rely on repetitive transitions, particularly the word 'Moreover', which appears three times. The flow between sentences is generally smooth, but the mechanical nature of some transitions prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Referencing is generally clear, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'endangered species', 'wildlife sanctuaries', and 'habitat'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'ambient protection' (which is not a standard collocation in this context) and 'wild- animals' (the hyphen is unnecessary). The range is sufficient but lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. The repetition of basic terms like 'source of knowledge' also limits the lexical variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over basic grammar, and errors rarely impede communication. However, there are several minor grammatical slips, such as 'no requirement of keeping' (should be 'no requirement to keep'), 'save them from getting extinct' (should be 'prevent them from becoming extinct'), and 'supports the only Asian lion species' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally accurate, but the inconsistent use of hyphens in 'wild- animals' is a recurring error. A wider variety of complex structures would be needed for a higher score.

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