Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-05

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)

Certain individuals argue that the primary environmental concern nowadays is the decline in the number of species of plants and animals, while others think it is only the minor problem that we are facing and there are other issues that has more damage towards environment. This essay will discuss both perspectives but I strongly agree that balanced biodiversity is the vital part of excellent environment.

To begin with, many people believe the key factor to the environmental harm is diminishing species, due to the importance of well-divided biodiversity. The loss of even one specific species can lead to a massive damage towards the food chain. For instance, Lion's population decline can result an excessive rise in deer population, which are herbivores. Furthermore, it can conclude deficiency of grasslands' area.

On the other hand, others argue there are numerous problems with detrimental effect, such as, climate change, various pollution and even global warming. For example, climate change has direct impact on both wildlife and human. In recent years, most of these problems have been caused by, greenhouse gases, widespread air and water pollution, rapid biodiversity loss, deforestation, and massive plastic and general waste accumulation. Humans are accountable for most of the issues they are facing.

From my perspective, having a balanced biodiversity is the fundamental part of having an excellent and healthy environment.

In conclusion, while many people believe that the decline of endangered species is the main concern due to its potential disruption of the food chain, others argue that climate change poses a more significant threat to our environment. In my opinion, both issues should be addressed as interconnected problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the first body paragraph provides a specific example regarding the food chain, the second paragraph lists several environmental issues without explaining how they relate to the prompt's core debate or why they might be considered 'more important' than biodiversity loss. The conclusion introduces a nuanced perspective by suggesting the issues are interconnected, which is a strong point, but this could have been integrated more thoroughly into the body paragraphs to enhance the depth of the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the internal cohesion within the second body paragraph is weaker, as the list of environmental problems feels like a collection of points rather than a cohesive argument. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task. You demonstrate the ability to use topic-specific terms such as 'biodiversity', 'greenhouse gases', and 'deforestation'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'conclude deficiency' instead of 'lead to a deficiency' and 'massive damage towards' instead of 'massive damage to'. While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the control is not always precise. To reach a higher band, focus on more natural collocations and ensure that word choices are consistently accurate in a formal academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it is only the minor problem' (should be 'a minor problem'), 'result an excessive rise' (should be 'result in'), and 'deficiency of grasslands' area' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are unnecessary commas, such as in 'caused by, greenhouse gases'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will improve your score.

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