Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-08
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 6.0)
Nowadays, many people are concerned due to increasing environmental problems. Some people say that extinction of particular species of flora and fauna are the main environmental issues, while others argue that there are other environmental problems that are more important. In this essay, both the sides will be discusses before presenting a conclusion in favor of the latter point.
On one hand, proponents believe that loss of numerous environmental friendly species of plants and animals are responsible for current climate change. As they were playing an important role in regulating temperature, maintaining a balanced food chain, and preventing natural disasters. For instance, a dense forest of a particular plant specie can prevent or reduce the loss caused by heavy floods. In addition, some plants are good in lowering the environmental temperature than the other plants, their extinction could result in a higher temperature, which will ultimately effect the society.
On the other hand, opponents think that environmental problems like air pollution, noise pollution, inadequate waste management, and increased carbon foot print are more important problems of the time to be addressed. These issues are causing more harmful effects on the society. For instance, air pollutants are responsible for number of respiratory diseases, which also increases medical burden in hospitals. Furthermore, waste material accumulated in cities, like Karachi or Mumbai, due to insufficient waste management is causing issues for citizens, such as increase in gastroenteritis caused by flies attracted to the waste material as well as present a source of unpleasant smell.
In my opinion, although, the loss of particular plant and animal species are considerable problems of our time, the other environmental problems such as increased emission of gases due to industrialization, deforestation, and mass transportation in cities are the biggest issues of the time. By addressing these challenges, we will be able to make a better place for survival of several living organisms, including human beings, as well as plants and animals.
In conclusion, in the present time, other environmental problems are more important to be addressed than the extinction of flora and fauna for the long term benefits of society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the role of biodiversity in climate regulation versus the immediate impact of pollution on human health. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The argument for the importance of other environmental problems is more detailed than the argument for biodiversity loss. To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides of the argument are developed with equal depth and complexity. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the stance taken.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
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 generally smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. However, there are minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the sentence fragment 'As they were playing an important role...' which lacks a main clause, slightly disrupting the cohesion. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the clarity of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated terminology like 'flora and fauna', 'regulating temperature', and 'inadequate waste management'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'environmental friendly species' (should be 'environmentally friendly') and 'effect the society' (should be 'affect'). Additionally, 'number of respiratory diseases' is missing an article. While the range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Improving collocation and word forms would enhance the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'extinction of particular species... are' (subject-verb agreement error), 'both the sides will be discusses' (passive voice error), and the aforementioned sentence fragment starting with 'As they were playing...'. Punctuation is generally fine, but there are some awkward phrasings that hinder the flow. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are complete and grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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