Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 4.0)

For environment, few things are more crucial than protecting endangered plants and animals, while others say that there are more important environmental issues. In many developed and developing countries, a substantial amount of money is allocated to preserve wildlifes as it often necessitates the use of various resources such as awareness campaigns, scientific research and so on. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that addressing other environmental problems as well as the former one is equally important for protecting environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The opening identifies the topic and gives a position: you believe other environmental problems are “equally important” alongside species loss. However, the task asks you to discuss both views and support your opinion, and the response does not develop either side with reasons or examples. The reference to funding for wildlife preservation is relevant, but it does not explain why species loss is considered the main problem or identify what other problems may be more serious. The response is also substantially below the required minimum: it contains 70 words, 180 short, and 8 words copied from the prompt were excluded. To address the task, develop separate arguments for both views and explain your own position with specific examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The ideas are presented in a generally understandable order: the first sentence introduces the contrasting views, and “Nevertheless” signals your own position. This gives the short response a basic sense of direction. However, there is only one paragraph, and the contrast is not followed by distinct explanations or supporting points, so progression stops almost immediately. The phrase “the former one” also requires the reader to look back to identify the reference. Organise a full response into an introduction, paragraphs discussing each view, and a conclusion. Use clear links between developed points, and refer to ideas directly rather than relying on vague expressions such as “the former one.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “endangered plants and animals,” “environmental issues,” “allocated,” and “scientific research.” These choices make the subject clear, and “substantial amount” shows an attempt to use more precise language. However, the short response offers limited evidence of range, and a few expressions are inaccurate or unnatural: “wildlifes” is not the correct form, while “For environment” and “protecting environment” are awkwardly phrased. “Various resources” is also vague in a sentence about money and activities. Aim for accurate collocations and a wider range of terms for environmental threats, such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, while ensuring each phrase fits its context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes both a complex opening sentence with “while” and a contrast introduced by “Nevertheless,” and the main meaning remains understandable. The sentence beginning “In many developed and developing countries” also shows an attempt to explain a point through a subordinate clause. However, the sample is too short to demonstrate a sustained range of structures, and article use is inaccurate in “For environment” and “protecting environment”; these should refer to “the environment.” The final sentence also has an unclear construction in “addressing other environmental problems as well as the former one is equally important,” because the comparison is not expressed cleanly. Practise accurate articles and build longer, clearly controlled sentences to explain and support each argument.

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.