Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-01

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)

In recent years, environmental problems has became the crux of current societies. Many people expressed that the main concern regarding the environment is the loss of certain species, while others believed that there are environmental issues that are more important. This essay will explore the arguments that support both notions, before opining which is right.

On the one hand, the extinction of particular species is a detrimental problem to both mankind and nature. One major reason is that the loss of a species cannot be undone. All species of plants and animals on Earth are all a products evolution, which is a process that took million of years. Along that, all the traits of a species came to be by pure chance, which made them unique from others. If a species were to go extinct, they would forever be gone and there will be no way to bring them back. Another reason is that many species can be studied by human for scientific knowledges and upgrading quality of life. A lots of species of plants can produce chemicals that can be used to treat certain diseases. Furthermore, gorillas, an endangered species of great ape, can be researched to understand societies and intelligence in primates. Without them, human may suffered tremendously and many scientific knowledge may be lost.

On the other hand, it is clear that there are various of other environmental issues that need attention aside from the extinction of species. One of those problems is the greenhouse effect. Emission from industrial sites and vehicle which used fossil fuel contain greenhouse gasses. When released to the atmosphere, it reflect escaping sunlights back to Earth, effectively increasing the temperature of the planet. This leads to global warming, which then consequently causes changes in weather pattern, the melting of ice in polar region, and thus inevitably results in a mass extinction. Another important environmental problem is the pollution of the ecosystem. Activities from factories produce a lot of harmful chemicals as by-products. If the disposal processes are left unregulated, they may ended up into the environment, which pollute the ecosystem and make it eventually unhabitable. Not only that, they can also get into the water supply of local people, causing various diseases and, the worst case, death.

In summary, while the loss of particular species is indeed a detrimental problem that need to be solved, there are also various environmental issues that need to be resolved. Not only should we focus on protecting endangered species from the brink of extinction, we should also allocate resouces and attention towards mitigating other problems, such as global warming and pollution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The essay addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of gorillas for scientific research and the impact of greenhouse gases on global warming. The position is consistent throughout the response. To reach a higher band, ensure that the conclusion does not just restate the points but synthesizes them more effectively to reinforce the central argument. The development is logical, and the essay maintains a balanced approach to the two viewpoints presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Another reason', and 'In summary' are used effectively to link ideas. However, there are minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the slightly awkward transition in 'Along that, all the traits of a species...'. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical flow is maintained throughout the text, making the argument easy to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally sufficient and allows for the expression of complex ideas. You use some good topic-specific vocabulary like 'extinction', 'greenhouse effect', and 'mitigating'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'scientific knowledges' (should be 'scientific knowledge') and 'various of other' (should be 'various other'). There are also minor errors like 'unhabitable' (uninhabitable). To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that plural/singular forms of uncountable nouns are handled correctly. The range is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('environmental problems has became', 'human may suffered') and pluralization ('a products evolution', 'a lots of species'). These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. To move to a higher band, you need to increase the frequency of error-free complex sentences and pay closer attention to verb tenses and article usage. The control over punctuation is generally good, but the grammatical slips are consistent enough to prevent a higher score.

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