Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-06

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)

I think its better to keep animals in the environment were the feel safe and secure. Zoo are a lot better at keeping different kind of species of animals from going existent. Well there will be people who will argue against it and say that animals should be kept at there natural environment. We know were they are coming from. But i will tackle it.

Throughout the history of the earth animals have been going existent with different causes. It can be environmental or natural. We know that dinosaurs got existent because of an space asteroids. But that one in a life time event. Just like that we have seen so many species got wiped out from the face of the earth throughout history. But the people who are against it we know were they are coming from. They care about animal rights and have a compasionate heart. But people who support the zoo argument also saying by having a certain concern for the animals. They say animals are more in danger in the natural environment because they will face natural threats like predators. They will die a natural death so it is better to keep tham safe in the zoo.

I think there is one option were they can agree on which is to keep the animals in zoo which are going to existent or are endangered species. In this way they will stay safe from predators and different environmental dangers. So i think zoos should not be closed. they are a source of entertainment for people and should be kept that way.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against closing zoos, focusing on conservation and safety. However, the development of ideas is limited. The argument relies on repetitive points about predators and extinction without providing specific examples or deeper analysis. The mention of 'entertainment' at the end is a new point that is not integrated into the main argument, making the development feel somewhat superficial. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations or concrete examples of how zoos contribute to conservation beyond just keeping animals 'safe'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into three paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often disjointed. Transitions are frequently missing or repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'we know where they are coming from'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the second paragraph where the distinction between the two opposing groups becomes muddled. While the overall message is understandable, the lack of sophisticated cohesive devices makes the progression of ideas feel mechanical and occasionally confusing for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. There are significant errors in word choice, such as using 'going existent' instead of 'becoming extinct' and 'compasionate' (spelling error). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas, relying on basic phrasing like 'a lot better' and 'keep them safe'. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of topic-specific vocabulary related to wildlife, conservation, and ethics, and ensure that words are used in their correct collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('Zoo are'), incorrect verb forms ('going existent'), and missing articles. Sentence structures are predominantly simple, with few attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of apostrophes ('its' instead of 'it's'). While the meaning is generally conveyed, the high frequency of basic errors in grammar and punctuation prevents the writing from reaching a higher band level.

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

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