Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-09
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 5.0)
Yes, I totally agree with this statement. A zoo is a place where animals are kept in a closed environment. They are caged and kept for the showcase of people for their own benefit. There will be a problem of animal torture. Depression can also happen to animals.
Animals are creatures that must live freely in the forest. So closing zoos will benefit animals, as they can live freely.
The best example is that in zoos, people treat the animals as some kind of immortal creatures, which can cause stress to the animals and result in the early death of animals.
Hence, freedom is not only suitable for humans; it also applies to animals. Animals must live in the forest as we live in the city. They are not disturbing us until they are disturbed by us.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
Your position is clear from the opening: “I totally agree,” and you give relevant reasons, including animals being caged, experiencing stress, and suffering early death. However, the response addresses the task only minimally. These points are asserted rather than explained, and the example about people treating animals as “immortal creatures” is unclear, so it does not effectively support your argument. You also do not consider what zoos might contribute or explain why closing all zoos is preferable to improving their conditions. The response is 113 words below the required minimum, which leaves too little space to develop your reasons and provide relevant examples. Expand each main idea with explanation and specific evidence.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The ideas are presented in a generally understandable order: you state your opinion, describe harms to animals, and conclude that they should be free. Basic linking words such as “So” and “Hence” help show cause and conclusion. However, the response has little paragraph development, and the progression between points is limited. For example, “Depression can also happen to animals” is introduced without explanation or a link to the later claim about early death. The reference to “immortal creatures” also interrupts the argument because its meaning is not clear. Use separate paragraphs for your position, developed reasons, and conclusion, and connect each claim to the next with clear explanations rather than relying mainly on simple transitions.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “caged,” “stress,” “freedom,” and “depression,” so the reader can follow your general concern for animal welfare. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, which weakens the argument. “For the showcase of people” does not clearly express that animals are displayed to visitors, while “animal torture” is a strong but unsupported phrase. “Immortal creatures” is also confusing in this context. Aim for more precise topic vocabulary and natural collocations, such as describing animals as being kept in captivity or experiencing psychological distress. Vary repeated references to “animals” and choose wording that accurately reflects the point you intend to make.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
Most sentences are grammatically understandable, and you use both simple statements and a few more developed structures, such as “closing zoos will benefit animals, as they can live freely.” This gives the response some variety, although the range remains narrow and many sentences follow the same basic pattern. The sentence “Animals are creatures that must live freely in the forest” is grammatically formed, but the general claim would be clearer if expressed with a more precise structure. The final sentence, “They are not disturbing us until they are disturbed by us,” is also awkwardly constructed and makes the relationship between the clauses difficult to follow. Practise combining related ideas with accurate subordinate clauses and check that pronouns and clause links make your meaning clear.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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