Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-13

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)

We should not close zoos. Because there are a lot of animals that pose grave danger to human beings and if we don't take precatuionary measures, our lives can be in danger.

Some animals cannot be tamed or cannot adapt in our environment and they prefer to live their life the wild way. For example, Lions, they live in the jungle and do as they please. They hunt for their food and protect their family from those who pose a threat.

Only animals that do not pose grave threat or can be tamed easily should be kept out of zoos, like cats, dogs, parrots, etc. For example, a dog can be considered very dangerous. But, if it is properly trained, it can be a very helpful and a very loyal pet as well. Dogs are also used in law enforcements to invesitage narcotics by training them to sense or smell drugs and substances.

The need for zoos only arises when the dangerous animals are in question. If we dont keep those animals in zoos, then the fear of being hunted by them will always be in our mind. To eliminate that fear, we need to build proper facilities in which we can keep them.

In Conclusion, I think zoos should not be closed just beacuse some animals can be kept outside of the zoos. We need to think of the animals that are constantly looking to hunt and are a danger to our survival as well. We need to build zoos with proper infrastructure and facilites to ensure the well being of the animals that are kept in the zoos.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you disagree with closing zoos, and you give relevant examples involving lions and trained dogs. However, the response only partly addresses the central issue of whether animals still need to be kept in zoos. The main justification is that dangerous animals could threaten people, rather than explaining why zoos are necessary or considering animal welfare, conservation, or alternatives such as protected reserves. The claim that fear of being hunted would remain is asserted but not supported with evidence or a specific example. To strengthen the response, develop two distinct reasons, explain how well-managed zoos address them, and briefly acknowledge and answer a counterargument about animals’ needs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a recognisable structure, with an opening position, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion that returns to your view. Examples are generally placed near the points they illustrate. However, progression between ideas is limited: the discussion moves from dangerous wild animals to tame pets and then back to danger, without clearly explaining how the pet example supports keeping zoos open. Several paragraphs repeat the same safety argument, especially the references to grave danger, fear of being hunted, and human survival. Some linking is also mechanical, with repeated uses of “For example” and “We need.” Organise the body around separate reasons and use clearer links to show how each example supports its paragraph’s main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “grave danger,” “tamed,” “facilities,” and “infrastructure,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, particularly “dangerous,” “animals,” and “zoos.” Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “live their life the wild way,” “law enforcements,” and “sense or smell drugs and substances.” There are also spelling errors, including “precatuionary,” “invesitage,” “dont,” “beacuse,” and “facilites,” which reduce accuracy. Build a more precise range for discussing animal welfare and conservation, and check spelling and collocations carefully. For instance, describe animals as living “in the wild” and refer to “law enforcement agencies.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Your writing includes simple sentences and some attempts at longer structures, such as “if we don't keep those animals in zoos, then the fear … will always be in our mind.” The main ideas remain understandable, but sentence control is uneven. “We should not close zoos. Because…” is an incomplete sentence because the second part is a dependent clause; join it to the first sentence. In “they prefer to live their life,” the singular “life” does not agree with the plural subject, and “a very helpful and a very loyal pet” uses an unnecessary repeated article. The sentence beginning “Only animals that…” is also awkwardly constructed. Practise combining clauses accurately and check agreement, articles, and punctuation when revising.

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.