Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-16

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 6.5)

Majority of the animal species can be found in zoos around the world. Many people believe that animals should be made free in their natural habitats, and zoos should be closed. I partially agree with the statement and my essay support my opinion with relevant examples.

To begin with, in a majority of zoos, animals and birds are often in pathetic conditions. They are not receiving proper food, water, and sunlight which is essential for their well-being. However, if zoos are closed, then the captive creatures can be released into their natural habitats, where they can easily roam and delve. Moreover, some animals forget their natural skills of hunting or obtaining food all by themselves when they are in zoos. This problem gets solved when they are made free in the nature. Furthermore, the disturbed food cycle issue also gets resolved. For example, the population of deer increases in jungles when there no carnivores such as lion and tiger. The deer then eat most of the plants and grass which disturbs the natural balance.

On the other hand, there are few drawbacks related to zoos' closures. Firstly, young people especially children would not be able to physically see and understand the animal species. They might lack understanding about how the creatures look like and also how they act. Secondly, zoos provide employment to many animal care-takers and other supporting staff. This could lead to the problem of unemployment. Also, some zoos create a good living environment that sick animals brought from wildlife can receive proper care and their health improves. For instance, due to forest fires many of the animals are harmed. Thus, zoos can give them better treatment.

In conclusion, it is not beneficial to close down all zoos. Zoos are not merely a place for people to visit in their leisure time, as many zoos often provide better treatment to animals that are on the verge of extinction.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by providing a clear position and supporting it with arguments for both sides. Your stance is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of animal welfare, ecological balance, and the educational/economic roles of zoos. However, some points could be developed further; for instance, the argument regarding 'pathetic conditions' is a strong starting point, but could be supported with more specific examples of how modern zoos are attempting to change these practices. Overall, the response is well-balanced and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the opposing viewpoints. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Additionally, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, in the second paragraph, the link between the deer population and the food cycle is clear, but the connection to the broader argument about zoos could be tightened.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'natural habitats', 'captive creatures', 'verge of extinction', and 'ecological balance'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'delve' (which is usually used for research or searching into a topic rather than physical movement) and 'made free in the nature' (which should be 'released into the wild'). While you attempt some less common vocabulary, there is room to incorporate more precise collocations to reach a higher band. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Majority of the animal species' (needs an article: 'The majority'), 'my essay support' (subject-verb agreement: 'supports'), and 'how the creatures look like' (should be 'what the creatures look like'). Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Your control over punctuation is generally good, and the sentence variety is sufficient for this level.

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

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