Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-08-28

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 this rapidly changing world, zoos are playing an increasingly vital role. We no longer need to have animals kept in zoos, so zoos should be closed. This issue has sparked considerable debate. The following essay will examine both perspectives before presenting a reasoned conclusion.

Firstly, there are several reasons in favor of this argument. The most compelling one is animals also have the right to move freely like human beings. For example, pandas also love to explore the world like humans. Another major advantage is that animals are the important part of maintaining our ecosystem. Hence, it is irrefutable that the positive outcomes of the given notion cannot be overlooked.

On the contrary, people opposing the notion had their own strong reasons. The primary justification is that some animals are very dangerous. They cannot move outside freely. For instance, lion which is very dangerous for human beings. They not only destroy the natural environment but also the human beings. This notion also carries several drawbacks that cannot be overlooked.

In conclusion, it is clear that the given notion carries both positive and negative implications for society. Therefore, addressing its main challenges is essential to foster a balanced and sustainable future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you attempt to address both sides of the argument, the points are underdeveloped and lack sufficient supporting evidence or examples. For instance, the claim that lions 'destroy the natural environment' is not well-explained or logically sound. To improve, you must expand your arguments with detailed explanations and relevant real-world examples to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a more thorough exploration of the topic. Your position is stated in the introduction but remains somewhat superficial throughout the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which is a positive feature. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Another major advantage', and 'On the contrary' to signal transitions. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the logical flow between sentences is occasionally weak. For example, the transition between the idea of animal rights and the ecosystem in the second paragraph is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that each paragraph has a clear central theme that is developed logically from the previous one.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on somewhat repetitive phrasing, such as 'the given notion' and 'cannot be overlooked', which appears twice. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'animals are the important part of maintaining our ecosystem' (should be 'an important part'). To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to animal welfare, conservation, and biodiversity, and avoid repeating the same sentence structures or phrases to conclude your points.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'people opposing the notion had their own strong reasons' (should be 'have') and 'For instance, lion which is very dangerous' (missing article and verb). Additionally, some sentences are fragmented or lack proper subject-verb agreement. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for articles, verb tenses, and pluralization. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring they are error-free will help you reach a higher band score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.