Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-16

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)

Zoos have been one of the most popular tourist attractions since old times, but some individuals believe in the closure of zoos because trapping animals in zoos are no longer needed. I believe in a neutral approach which does not neccessarily deprives an animal of its natural habitat by keeping them in enclosed spaces but also helps people to monitor species, keeping track of their health conditions and protecting from endangerment.

Zoos used to be one of the most popular tourist places in an area which is because of the curiosity that it introduced in people. Individuals and families wanted to visit zoos because they were curious about different animal species, mostly on how distinct they look from one another and from humans themselves. As a result, zoos always had a high number of families with kids visiting them, thus making it a successful tourist attraction. Moreover, the animals displayed in zoos were well fed and taken care of, preventing them from catching harmful diseases.

In recent times, many individuals have developed a belief that animals should not be deprived of their natural habitats by keeping them locked up behind cages and walls and be let free in the forest where they belong. People believe that depriving animals of their natural habitats makes them lose their natural ability to navigate different terrains and hunt for their own food. For example, a lion cub born in the zoo will lose its natural ability to hunt because meals are served directly to the cage, therefore, losing its natural given ability.

In my opinion

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You introduce the issue and present a position in the opening, saying you favour “a neutral approach,” and you give relevant reasons concerning public interest, animal care and the loss of hunting skills. However, the position is not sustained or fully explained: the response ends at “In my opinion” without completing the argument or conclusion, and it does not clearly answer whether zoos should be closed. The discussion of zoos as tourist attractions is also more descriptive than evaluative, while the lion example supports only one concern about captivity. To strengthen the response, state clearly whether you agree or disagree, explain how your proposed approach would work, and develop both the benefits and drawbacks before reaching a conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable paragraph structure: it introduces the topic, discusses the appeal and care provided by zoos, and then presents concerns about captivity. Linking expressions such as “As a result,” “Moreover,” and “For example” help connect points locally. However, the overall progression is incomplete because the final paragraph begins with “In my opinion” but contains no developed argument, leaving the reader without a resolution. Some connections are also repetitive or mechanical, particularly the repeated references to zoos’ popularity and people’s curiosity. Organise the body around a clear position, use each paragraph to develop one distinct reason, and complete the final paragraph with a conclusion that follows from the discussion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic-related vocabulary, including “natural habitats,” “endangerment,” “navigate different terrains,” and “harmful diseases.” These choices make the subject clear, and the response attempts some less common expressions. At times, however, word choice or collocation is inaccurate or awkward, as in “believe in the closure,” “the curiosity that it introduced in people,” and “natural given ability.” There is also a spelling error in “neccessarily.” These issues do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision and naturalness. Aim for established collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, describe people as “supporting the closure of zoos” and say that zoos “sparked people’s curiosity.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “because,” “which,” and “therefore.” Most of the meaning remains clear, and the example about a lion cub is expressed through a cause-and-effect structure. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement and sentence construction. In “trapping animals in zoos are no longer needed,” the subject and verb do not agree; “trapping animals … is no longer necessary” would be more accurate. The opening sentence also has an unclear structure around “which is because,” and the final example ends with the fragment “therefore, losing its natural given ability.” Review agreement and ensure that participle phrases have a clear grammatical subject. Completing the unfinished final paragraph would also allow you to demonstrate control across a full response.

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