Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-11
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)
Some people think that losing plants and animals is the biggest environmental problem today. Other people think there are other problems more important. I will discuss both sides.First, losing animals and plants is very bad. Many wild animals like tigers are dying now because people cut trees and destroy their homes. If these animals die completely, nature will change badly. Also, plants give clean air to people every day. Without plants, we cannot breathe good air. So, many people say this is the most main problem.Second, other environmental problems are also very big. For example, air and water pollution is a major issue. Air pollution from cars and factories makes people very sick. Water pollution from factories kills fish and we cannot drink it. Also, global warming is a big danger today. The world is getting hotter and ice is melting fast. This causes big floods and bad weather everywhere.In my opinion, pollution and global warming are more important than losing animals. If the world is too dirty and hot, all animals and humans will die together anyway. So we need to stop pollution and protect the earth first.To conclude, losing species is a problem, but pollution and climate change are bigger problems for our earth today.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, they are presented in a simplistic manner without sufficient supporting evidence or detailed examples. The arguments regarding biodiversity loss and pollution are mentioned but not fully explored, leading to a superficial treatment of the topic. To improve, you must expand your points with more detailed explanations and specific examples to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a more thorough engagement with the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Second', 'Also', and 'To conclude' to link your points. However, the transitions are somewhat mechanical and repetitive. The logical flow is generally sound, but the lack of length prevents the development of more sophisticated cohesive links between sentences. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to create a more natural flow between your arguments and supporting details.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You rely on simple adjectives like 'bad', 'big', and 'clean' throughout the text. There is little evidence of less common or academic vocabulary that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to environmental issues, such as 'biodiversity', 'ecosystem', 'industrial emissions', or 'mitigation'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repeating the same words and make your writing more engaging and professional.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The grammar is generally accurate, and your meaning is always clear. You use simple sentence structures effectively, but there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. Most sentences follow a basic subject-verb-object pattern. To achieve a higher band, you need to incorporate a wider range of complex structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'If governments were to implement stricter regulations, the impact on biodiversity could be mitigated'), relative clauses, or passive voice constructions. While your current writing is error-free, the limited range of structures restricts your score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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