Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-14

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 5.0)

Some people believe that zoos are no longer necessary and should be closed . I disagree with this opinion because, although zoos can have disadvantages, they can also protect animal's and educate people about wildlife.

There are several reasons why people want zoos to be closed. Firstly, wild animals may not have enough space to move freely in zoos. they kept in an artificial environment instead of their natural habitat. this can affect them natural behavior and may cause stress. Secondly some zoo may not proper care or suitable living places for animals. And others poorly managed zoos should be closed.

However, I believe that well- managed zoos can still play an important role. One major benefit is that they can help protect endangered animals. Zoos can provide a safe place for these animals and may help increase them population. Additon, zoos can educate visitors, especially children, about animals.

In my opinion, all zoos should not be closed. instead, zoos that do not provide good conditions for animals should be improved or closed.

In conclusion, keeping animals in unsuitable conditions is harmful, but i believe that well- managed zoos can be useful for animal protection and education. Therefore, I disagree that all zoos should be closed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

You have addressed the prompt by taking a clear position and providing relevant arguments for both sides. However, the response is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits your ability to fully develop your ideas. While you mention that zoos protect endangered species and provide education, these points are stated rather than extended with specific examples or deeper analysis. To reach a higher band, you must expand your supporting points and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive discussion of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and you use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the flow could be improved with more sophisticated linking words. Paragraphing is present, but the brevity of the paragraphs makes the overall structure feel slightly underdeveloped. Improving the variety of your cohesive devices would help the essay flow more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your ideas clearly, such as 'endangered animals', 'artificial environment', and 'natural habitat'. However, there are some errors in word form and collocation, such as 'affect them natural behavior' (should be 'affect their natural behavior') and 'Additon' (should be 'In addition'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the range of less common or idiomatic expressions required for higher bands. Focusing on accurate word forms and expanding your range of topic-specific collocations will improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate an ability to use simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and articles, such as 'they kept in an artificial environment' (should be 'they are kept') and 'some zoo may not proper care' (should be 'some zoos may not provide proper care'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some missing capital letters at the start of sentences. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy of your writing.

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

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