Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-13

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)

In recent years it has become increasingly common to debate that whether zoos should be closed and their is no need to kept an animals in zoos. I strongly agree that zoos should be shutdown . This essay will explain why I hold this view.

To begin with, one major reason is that it is a basic rights of an animal that they live in open environment surrounded by nature rather than live in a big cage. This means that god creates an animal body like they fit in a open environment around trees and waters such as in jungle and i believe thats the reason we found animals in forest area. For example, In Tamilnadu India people protest against the forest department that leave all animals in forest because their structure are like that and they barely survive in closed cage.

Another important reason is that different kinds of animals need different environment and in zoos area it is not always possible that they have the environment what their body deserves. In other words one group of animals who lives in hot area like a desert on the other hand other group of animals who need snow to survive in their life. Additionally wild animals who need open area to roaming and greenery like a trees, rivers and grass arounds them. For Instance, Penguine need a surface of ice and cold ocean to live a healthy lifestyle. While animals like a lion and tiger required a open big open forest.

In conclusion, I firmly agree that zoo should be closed and there is requirement to have animals in zoos because it is rights of an animals that they live in open environment not in a cage like structure and environment what zoos proivde is not always suitable for all types of animals, each and every animals have body that they survive in different types of nature.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The ideas are relevant, focusing on animal welfare and environmental suitability. However, the development is somewhat repetitive, and the arguments lack depth. For instance, the example regarding the protest in Tamil Nadu is mentioned but not fully explained in relation to the broader argument. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why' and 'how' of your points rather than restating the same idea about animals needing nature. The conclusion also contains a contradictory statement ('there is requirement to have animals in zoos'), which undermines the consistency of your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with', 'Another important reason', and 'In conclusion', which help the reader follow the argument. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are issues with referencing and sentence-level cohesion. For example, the phrase 'their structure are like that' is vague, and the transition between sentences within paragraphs can be abrupt. Improving the flow between sentences by using more varied linking words and ensuring clear pronoun references would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'big cage', 'open environment', and 'good/bad'. There are also several word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'debate that whether', 'shutdown' (used as a verb here, should be 'shut down'), and 'roaming' (should be 'roam'). While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and the presence of errors in word formation limit the score. Focus on learning topic-specific collocations related to animal conservation and environmental habitats.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('their structure are', 'Penguine need'), article usage ('a open environment'), and tense consistency. There are also several punctuation and spelling errors, such as 'proivde' and 'grounds'. While the meaning is usually understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that articles and plural forms are used correctly.

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

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