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)

Nowadays, some people believe that the major environmental issue is the disappearance of certain species of plants and animals, while others argue that there are more crucial environmental problems. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own view.

One of the main reasons is that the decline of any species of plants or animals can hamper the ecosystem. Recently, many people are cutting down a large number of trees which leads to reducing the oxygen supply and also damages the habitat of some animals. As a result, it affects the food chain of the ecosystem. For instance, Shundarban, which is the biggest forest in Asia, underwent a substantial deforestation. Therefore, numerous animals were endangered such as tigers, deer, and birds and this causes a serious effect on biodiversity.

On the other hand, there are enormously significant environmental problems beyond the loss of species of plants and animals. Firstly, air pollution is one of the most important problems as it causes several health illnesses to people. Subsequently, noise pollution is also considered as a detrimental factor for a urban society. Finally, soil pollution is the most contemporary issue because a lot of debris are now found on the harvested field from the industrial sewages. Taken together, I firmly believe that those are the main reasons for environmental pollution.

To conclude, while some people think that loss of particular species of plants and animals is the primary problem for environments, however I strongly believe that there are growing essential environmental issues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state your position, so the response is relevant to the task. The first body paragraph explains how deforestation can damage habitats and food chains, with the Sundarbans example; the second identifies air, noise and soil pollution as other concerns. However, these points are only partly developed: the discussion does not clearly compare the relative importance of species loss and other problems, and the conclusion repeats your preference without explaining it. The example also needs a clearer link to the argument. The response contains 243 words, seven below the required minimum; the eight words copied from the prompt are not counted. Develop the reasoning and add a little more relevant support.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “On the other hand” and “To conclude” help signal the stages of the response. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, particularly the sequence “Firstly,” “Subsequently,” and “Finally,” which lists problems without showing how they relate to one another or to your overall comparison. Some referencing is unclear: “those” in the final body paragraph does not precisely identify the problems, and “this” in the first body paragraph has an uncertain reference. The conclusion’s “while … however” also creates an awkward connection. Use clearer links between claims and explanations, and make each paragraph build toward your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “ecosystem,” “habitat,” “food chain,” “biodiversity,” and “deforestation,” which makes the subject clear. There are also attempts at more formal wording, such as “substantial” and “detrimental.” However, several choices or combinations are unnatural or imprecise, including “health illnesses,” “a urban society,” “industrial sewages,” and “the most contemporary issue.” “Enormously significant” is also an awkward intensifier. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main ideas, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim for accurate collocations and use environmental terms specifically—for example, distinguish industrial wastewater from solid waste and describe pollution as a current or pressing issue.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including relative clauses (“Shundarban, which is the biggest forest in Asia”) and cause-and-effect structures (“which leads to reducing…”). Most ideas remain understandable, but errors recur in sentence construction and grammatical forms. For example, “which leads to reducing” is an awkward verb pattern, while “a urban society” has an article error. In “a lot of debris are now found,” the subject requires a singular verb, and the final sentence combines “while” with “however” incorrectly. The opening of the second body paragraph also lacks a clear grammatical link to the preceding point. Review articles, subject–verb agreement, verb patterns, and sentence connectors, then proofread complex sentences to ensure their clauses fit together.

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