Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10

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)

In recent years, we have been facing multiple serious problems regarding our environment. Certain people argue that the primary environmental concern of our time is the decline in some species of living things, while others contend there are more diverse challenges in the environment. This essay will discuss both views, however, I strongly believe we have a wide range of other worries.

To begin with, the majority of the individuals today, lack information on how serious this issue is. Even if only one specific species dies out, it would result in a imbalance to the food chain. For instance, if the lion population declines, the amount of the deer will immediately increase by significant numbers. This leads the crowded population of herbivores to reduce the area of grassland, resulting in unbalanced biodiversity.

On the other hand, others argue there are more critical difficulties mostly done by human activity. Such as, climate change, air and land pollution, global warming and several others. Climate change for example, has harmed a handful of places all around the world. Melting Arctic sea ice which has been a home to lots of species is a remarkable example of it. This has effected in rising sea levels globally.

From my perspective, every individual should focus on improving other issues is necessary for more developed Earth in the future.

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 both viewpoints and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The first body paragraph provides a specific example regarding the food chain, which is good, but the second body paragraph lists several environmental issues without fully exploring how they compare in importance to species loss. Furthermore, the conclusion introduces a new perspective by suggesting the issues are 'interconnected,' which contradicts the earlier stance that other issues are more pressing. To improve, ensure that your arguments are consistently developed and that your conclusion aligns with the position stated in the introduction.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. 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 referencing is occasionally imprecise. For example, the sentence 'Such as, climate change...' is a fragment that relies on the previous sentence for context, which disrupts the flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence is grammatically complete would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'biodiversity' and 'interconnected.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'an imbalance to the food chain' (should be 'in') and 'This has effected in rising sea levels' (should be 'resulted in' or 'caused'). To reach a higher band, focus on using collocations more accurately and expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary to avoid repeating general terms like 'problems' or 'issues.'

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 that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'the majority of the individuals today, lack information' (unnecessary comma), 'the amount of the deer' (should be 'number of deer'), and 'improving other issues is necessary for more developed Earth' (missing article). These errors do not significantly impede communication, but they do indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a stronger grasp of article usage and subject-verb agreement to achieve a higher score.

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