Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-04

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 7.0)

There are several restoration efforts all around the world today to return wild animals back to their natural habitats. As a result, there is an ongoing debate on whether zoos should be closed down to acceralerate such restoration efforts. In my view, zoos must be preserved because they serve a higher purpose beyond just housing wild animals.

On the one hand, views that zoos should be closed are based on animal rights activism that cite animal brutality and disruption of the ecosystem. While wild animals are being abused in a few places, zoos give a significantly opportunity for keepers to cater to animals who may otherwise suffer more in their natural habitats. For example, zookeepers tend to big cats with broken teeth or legs, restoring their natural ability. Although many zoos have recreational value, keeping wild animals in a closed environment supports zoological research. Wild animals are a crucial part of our ecosystem; hence, researching their behaviour and different characteristics can increase our working knowledge of the ecosystem. Zoos provide a control environment where different conditions can be induced and such animals studied accordingly.

Moreover, zoos also support animal conservation efforts, particularly for seriously endangered animals in the wild. For instance, conservationist can identify animals on the brink of extinction and move them to zoos. This protects endangered wild animals from indiscriminate natural or human hunting and ensures their survival. With zoos closed, this will no longer be possible. Zoos also provide recreational value for lovers of wild life who may not be able to visit a game reserve or the savannah. People not only enjoy such activities but this can also be an avenue for learning about different animals that cannot be easily observed in the wild.

In summary, zoos provide immense research, conservation, and recreational values today. Therefore, I strongly believe that they should not only be kept open but also funded extensively to support better management.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt, maintaining a clear position throughout that zoos should remain open and funded. The writer extends and supports main ideas well, such as discussing zoological research, animal preservation, and educational benefits. However, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise or touch upon multiple points without fully developing every single assertion, which places it securely at this level rather than a higher one. For example, the point about recreational value and wildlife lovers is introduced but could have been elaborated further to show its deeper significance. Overall, the task is answered thoroughly with relevant arguments and a consistent stance.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

There is a clear logical organisation and progression throughout the essay. The writer makes effective use of paragraphing, with each paragraph having a distinct central topic, starting from the introduction of the debate, moving through research and conservation arguments, and concluding with a summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Moreover', and 'In summary' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argumentation. While referencing is generally clear and cohesive relationships hold well, the use of transitions can occasionally feel slightly mechanical, preventing the response from achieving a truly seamless flow. Overall, information and ideas are logically sequenced with clear progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, employing less common items such as 'restoration efforts', 'indiscriminate', and 'zoological research'. However, there are a few lexical inaccuracies and spelling errors that prevent a higher score, such as 'acceralerate' instead of 'accelerate', 'significantly opportunity' instead of 'significant opportunity', and 'control environment' instead of 'controlled environment'. Word choice and collocation are generally adequate for the task and do not impede communication, allowing the reader to follow the arguments easily despite occasional slips.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over structures such as subordinate clauses and conditional constructions. There are frequent error-free sentences, alongside a few persistent errors in grammar, such as 'conservationist can identify' where pluralisation is missing, and 'With zoos closed, this will no longer be possible', which shows a slightly awkward absolute construction. Punctuation and verb tenses are generally well handled, and the minor errors do not impede communication. To reach the next level, the writer would need to demonstrate even greater consistency in complex structures with fewer minor slips in agreement and articles.

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.