Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-15

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 majority of individuals believed that animals want to take freedom especially dangerous animals kept in the cage. It is also a source of income for government. I totally disagree with this notion if zoos should be closed it increases the accident and harm the individuals and i will discuss my viewpoint in upcoming paragraphs.

To commence with the reason of why zoos should be closed because zoos is a conservational programs which are saving to endangered species and helping to breed. If the zoos should be closed the source of income are also closed and source of entertainment.To elaborate it, many of the government make a plan to visit the zoo for students which helps to explore new things and meet different kinds of animals. They prode special care because of meeting their needs. For instance, the conservational programs checking the environment of living, suitable foods, regular treatments and analysis of animal growth. As a result, animals is a part of life because it provide happiness and prevent the disease.

Moving towards the reason of this notion, the predominant point is zoos provide valueable educational opportunities. Children and adults can observe animals and learn about the habitat, behaviour and importance of environment. Moreover, this direct experience can encourage people to care more about wildlife and support conservation activities. Many of the zoos contribute to scientific research, which can improve our animal health and behaviour.

In conclusion, I disagree that all zoos should be closed. Although animal welfare must be priority,well managed zoos can support conservation,education and research. Therefore, improving zoo standards is a better solution than closing them completely.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against closing zoos. However, the development of ideas is inconsistent. The first body paragraph is confusing; it starts by arguing that zoos are conservation programs but then shifts to economic and safety arguments that are not clearly linked. The second body paragraph is more focused on education and research, which supports the position better. Some arguments, such as the claim that zoos 'prevent the disease', are vague and lack logical support. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on one clear, well-explained reason that directly supports your thesis statement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To commence with', 'To elaborate it', and 'Moreover', though some are used mechanically or incorrectly (e.g., 'Moving towards the reason of this notion'). The progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the transition between the conservation argument and the economic argument in the first body paragraph. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother to achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'take freedom' instead of 'have freedom' or 'freedom of movement', and 'prode' (likely a typo for 'provide'). Phrases like 'animals is a part of life' are simplistic. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'endangered species', 'habitat', and 'conservation', the overall range remains limited, and the errors occasionally draw attention to the language rather than the content.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'zoos is a conservational programs', 'animals is a part of life'), incorrect article usage, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'if zoos should be closed it increases the accident'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with correct tense usage.

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

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