Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-09-30

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 6.0)

In many countries, some people believe that we no longer need to have animals kept in zoos, so zoos should be closed. I completely disagree with this view because zoos help researchers and scientists to carry out their research and help animals to stay healthy. Also, zoos prevent animals from becoming extinct.

Firstly, zoos help researchers and scientists to carry out their research. If animals are kept in zoos, scientists can easily monitor their behaviours, reproduction patterns and their life span. If zoos are closed these kinds of research would be nearly impossible. Secondly, zoos allow animals to remain healthy throughout their life. If animals live in forest, they are more likely to suffer from various kinds of diseases. So, if these animals are kept under the eye of doctors, the diseases can easily be cured by providing effective treatments.

Additionally, zoos prevent animals from becoming endangered as various animals are killed by humans and predators. For example, elephants may become extinct because they are killed by humans for their tusks. Thus, these events can be avoided by keeping animals in zoos. Furthermore, zoos can also be used as a education source for children by schools. Schools can make education trips to zoos and educate children about the animals by teaching them about the behaviour of animals, different kinds of speices and so on. If zoos are closed, it may affect the education sector.

In conclusion, I strongly disagree that we no longer need to have animals kept in zoos, so zoos should be closed because it helps scientists to carry out their research and allow animals to stay healthy. In addition, it can be used as a education source and prevent animals from becoming endangered. Therefore, I believe zoos should exist.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student presents a clear and well-developed position throughout the essay, disagreeing with the closure of zoos and supporting this view with multiple reasons. All parts of the task are addressed, covering scientific research, animal health, conservation against extinction, and educational value. The ideas are extended with logical explanations and relevant examples, such as elephants being killed for their tusks. Although some points could benefit from even deeper elaboration to reach the highest bands, the response thoroughly satisfies the requirements of Task Achievement at a Band 7.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization with an evident progression of ideas from one paragraph to the next. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different supporting arguments, such as research, health, conservation, and education. Cohesive devices are employed to link ideas, seen in phrases like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Additionally', and 'In conclusion'. However, some of the cohesive links and referencing feel slightly repetitive or mechanical (e.g., frequent repetition of 'If animals...'), preventing the essay from achieving a higher band score. Overall, coherence and cohesion are managed well, aligning with a Band 6.5 descriptor.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'researchers', 'reproduction patterns', 'extinct', 'endangered', and 'predators'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, but occasional inaccuracies occur, such as writing 'a education source' instead of 'an educational resource' and 'speices' instead of 'species'. The lexical range is sufficient to communicate the writer's ideas clearly, though it lacks the flexibility, precision, and sophistication characteristic of a Band 7.0. Therefore, a Band 6.0 is well-suited for this lexical performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The essay features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditional structures like 'If animals are kept in zoos...' effectively. There is a good variety of sentence structures attempted throughout the text. However, a number of grammatical errors and awkward phrasings persist, including articles ('a education source'), subject-verb agreement issues ('allow animals to stay healthy' following singular subjects, or 'it helps scientists... and allow animals'), and minor preposition choices. These errors do not impede communication, but their frequency prevents the grammar score from entering the Band 7 range. A Band 6.0 accurately reflects this control.

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