Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-11

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 5.5)

I agree that main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Humans cut trees and use them for their benefits. They don't understand that those plants and trees are advantageous for humans. And they hunt animals and birds. Those animals and birds help in maintaining the balance of ecosystem. Those plants and animals play a significant role in environment balancing.

In addition to when plants and animals become extinct, food chain also gets disrupted. For example, the disappearance of bees can cause reduction in pollination resulting in lower agricultural production. However there are many other environmental problems like pollution, natural disasters etc. Pollution harms the lives of living beings and natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes affect the lives of people.

Climate change and global warming are also most serious environmental problems.

Water contamination affects the lives of millions of people and ecosystems across the word. Climate change, melting of glaciers resulting in rise of sea level also affect the ecosystem. In my opinion, extinction of animals and plants and pollution are the most important challenges because they have widespread consequences and can accelerate the loss of biodiversity. Governments should introduce stricter environmental laws, promote renewable energy and encourage people to reduce plastic waste and and save natural resources.

In conclusion, although the extinction of plant and animal species is a major concern, I believe that broader environmental problems such as climate change and pollution deserve greater attention because of their global impact.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear view that species loss is a major environmental problem, and you also mention other concerns, including pollution, climate change, water contamination and natural disasters. The bee example usefully explains how species loss can affect pollination and food production. However, the discussion of the opposing view is mostly a list: the effects of pollution and disasters are named but not explained or compared in depth. Your position also shifts: you first identify species loss as the main problem, then say extinction and pollution are most important, and conclude that climate change and pollution deserve greater attention. The response is 235 words, 15 short of the required minimum, which limits the space available to develop both views. Explain your comparison and state one consistent judgement throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable sequence: it begins with species loss, moves to other environmental problems, gives your opinion and ends with a conclusion. Examples such as the bee discussion help connect a cause with a consequence. However, progression between ideas is sometimes abrupt. “In addition to when plants and animals become extinct” is an awkward transition, and “Climate change and global warming are also most serious environmental problems” introduces another point without showing how it relates to the previous examples. The conclusion also changes the emphasis from your opening position. Use separate, clearly focused paragraphs for each view, link comparisons explicitly, and ensure the conclusion restates the same position established in the introduction.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “food chain,” “pollination,” “biodiversity,” “renewable energy” and “water contamination,” which allows you to discuss several environmental issues. There is some repetition of basic terms such as “plants and animals,” “problems” and “affects the lives,” and a few expressions are imprecise or unnatural. For example, “environment balancing” is not a natural way to describe ecological stability, while “for their benefits” does not clearly express the intended meaning. There is also a spelling error in “word” where “world” is intended. Build a wider set of precise collocations for causes and consequences, and check spelling and word choice during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Most sentences communicate a straightforward point, and you attempt some longer structures, including “When plants and animals become extinct, food chain also gets disrupted” and the sentence about bees and pollination. However, the range is limited, with many short sentences joined by “and,” and errors recur in articles, agreement and sentence construction. For example, “the main environmental problem” needs an article before “main”; “food chain” needs a determiner; and “Climate change, melting of glaciers resulting in rise of sea level also affect” has an unclear subject and agreement pattern. The phrase “In addition to when” also creates a faulty construction. Practise combining related ideas with accurate subordinate clauses, and proofread articles, singular/plural forms and subject–verb agreement.

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