Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-30

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 7.0)

Some people argue that the major environmental issue currently is the loss of particular species of both plants and animals while others contend that there are more pressing environmental issues. Both sides of these arguments will be discussed in the upcoming paragraphs.

On one hand, various species of plants and animals are at an increasing risk of becoming extinct. Due to littering and pollution, many animals can get stuck or choke on non-biodegradable material such as plastic, resulting in their deaths. Overall, many endangered species, such as the Red Panda and the Amur Leopard, are soon to become extinct because of the lack of environmental care. If more precautions are not taken, more species could become extinct, resulting in the disruption of food chains and essentially the entire operation of many ecosystems.

On the other hand, these environmental issues not only affect flora and fauna, but the entire planet as well. Attributable to greenhouse gases released by vehicles, climate change is becoming more of a problem which in turn is affecting global warming as well. It has been reported that more glaciers and ice caps are melting because of the erratic increase in the temperature of the planet. This negatively impacts both the habitat of animals living in these environments and the humans residing as well.

In conclusion, it is vital that we do not undermine either one of these concerning problems caused by environmental neglect. Both are equally grave problems that we must address soon, otherwise we might be too late.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the loss of species and climate change, the discussion remains at a surface level. To reach a higher band, you should provide more depth in your reasoning—for example, explaining the specific mechanisms by which climate change accelerates species loss, or discussing the socio-economic implications of these environmental crises. Your own opinion is present in the conclusion, but it would be more effective if it were clearly stated in the introduction and integrated throughout the body paragraphs to ensure a consistent position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use transition signals such as 'On one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the cohesion within paragraphs is occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition between the impact of pollution on animals and the broader mention of food chains could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow, though the link between the two body paragraphs could be strengthened to create a more cohesive argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'non-biodegradable,' 'erratic,' and 'undermine' correctly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific language, which is good. However, the range is somewhat limited, and some phrasing is repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'major environmental issue,' you could use 'pressing ecological concern.' The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'If more precautions are not taken, more species could become extinct.' Most of your sentences are clear and grammatically accurate. There are minor issues, such as 'the humans residing as well,' which is slightly awkward phrasing. You have good control over basic grammar, and your punctuation is generally correct. To achieve a higher score, aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or conditional sentences, with greater precision and fewer minor errors.

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