Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-14

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)

Zoos are not the only source for people to observe animals. From natural parks and wildlife sanctuaries to documentaries and research reports, animal education has a lot more accessible sources. Due to this, many people believe zoos are not a requirement anymore, and I agree with it.

Zoological parks are built around keeping wild animals captive for educational and entertainment purposes. They allow visitors from all age groups and professional background to observe a wide range of animals in one place. Glass and wire cages keep visitors safe from the unpredictable nature of animals and avoid human-animal contact. But holding wild animals captive goes against their natural environment. Research has proved that apex predetors like lions and tigers lose hunting abilities over time, which impacts their mental health too.

Simultaneously, many zoos import animals to enhance their mass appeal. For instance, a zoo in Mumbai opened a life penguin exhibit, but 50% of the penguins did not survive even 6 months, even with all mechanisms in place to mimic a polar environment. This shifts many zoos away from the educational endeavor towards being more capitalistic and unethical.

Although zoo animals do receive complete medical care from veterinarians and specialised zookeepers, taking them away from their natural habitat does them more harm than good. Hence, documentaries that are shot in their natural environments, by merely observing them are more ethical solutions. Furthermore, with internet and an expanded database, different forms of media can be generated for schooling and recreational purposes. They are also a more accurate depiction of how certain animals behave in their natural habitat.

In the end, I believe holding innocent animals captive for chhild education and mass entertainment is highly unethical and not required in contemporary times. We can access use more ethical sources like video documentaries and wildlife movies to fulfill the same objectives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

Your position is clear from the introduction—“I agree”—and remains consistent in the conclusion. You address the central issue by explaining the harms of captivity, questioning zoos’ educational purpose, and offering documentaries and wildlife media as alternatives. The Mumbai penguin example gives the argument useful specific support, while the discussion of animals’ welfare extends your reasoning. To develop the response further, explain more fully how alternatives could provide comparable educational value or support conservation, rather than mainly asserting that they are more ethical and accurate. Some claims, such as research proving predators lose hunting abilities, are presented broadly; a brief explanation or qualification would make the support more convincing. Overall, the task is addressed clearly, with relevant ideas that are extended, though some generalisations remain.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear progression: it introduces your view, describes the purposes and drawbacks of zoos, gives a specific example, considers veterinary care, and concludes with alternatives. Paragraphing supports this sequence, and linking expressions such as “Simultaneously,” “Although,” and “Hence” help show relationships between ideas. Cohesion is generally effective, though a few transitions feel slightly mechanical or do not precisely express the connection: “Simultaneously” introduces an additional point rather than a simultaneous event, and “In the end” is less formal than a direct concluding transition. The reference “They are also a more accurate depiction” could be clearer about whether “they” means documentaries or media sources. More precise transitions and referencing would make the progression even smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a good range of topic-specific vocabulary, including “wildlife sanctuaries,” “captive,” “natural habitat,” “veterinarians,” and “educational endeavor.” These choices allow you to discuss animal welfare and the role of zoos with reasonable precision, and there is some awareness of formal style. A few collocations and word choices are less natural: “mass appeal” is understandable but “commercial appeal” would fit better, while “complete medical care” is an overstatement where “comprehensive veterinary care” is more precise. There are also spelling errors in “predetors” and “chhild,” and “access use” is an incorrect phrase. Proofreading these slips and choosing more idiomatic combinations would strengthen an otherwise flexible vocabulary range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You use a variety of sentence forms, including complex clauses such as “Although zoo animals do receive complete medical care…, taking them away…” and the contrast introduced by “But holding wild animals captive…”. Many sentences are clear and grammatically controlled, and punctuation generally supports readability. A few constructions need revision. In “visitors from all age groups and professional background,” the coordinated noun phrase requires a plural form for “background.” The sentence beginning “Hence, documentaries that are shot…” has an awkwardly placed modifier: “by merely observing them” does not clearly attach to the filmmakers or documentaries. “With internet and an expanded database” also needs more precise article and number choices. These are occasional issues; clearer phrasing and careful proofreading would improve accuracy further.

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