Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-16

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)

It is argued that some people have a strong opinion on the fact that main major environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals meanwhile others argue that there are several important environmental problems.

It is a concern that extinction of various species of plants and animals leads to loss of massive biodiversity. Many important plants and animals extent due to human involvement. In my perspective there are many important environmental problems that must be taken care of. The loss of biodiversity is majorly due to deforestation, and excess hunting of animals. This is a concern whereas the major problems also exits which are endangering of species, pollution, soil erosion, destroying wild life, and deforestation.

People argue that only loss of particular species of plants and animals are major concerns whereas many other environmental problems are turned a blind eye. There are many species of plants and animals that are endangered listed in the "Red Data Book". The major concern is deforestation due to human greed in the name of development. This in my perspective is a major concern as we cannot bring back the extent species of plants and animals whereas it is our responsibility to protect the one which remains. Another major problem is pollution this must be controlled at any cost. Pollution of air, water, and soil are the major concerns. This makes life on earth difficult.

In conclusion, there are more important environmental problems that must be discussed and eliminated rather than focusing on what we cannot control.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides an opinion, but the development is inconsistent. While you acknowledge the loss of species and mention other environmental issues, the arguments are repetitive and lack depth. For instance, you list 'pollution, soil erosion, destroying wild life, and deforestation' as separate problems, but these are often overlapping concepts. The distinction between the two views is blurred because your supporting points for both sides are nearly identical. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a distinct argument with specific examples or logical consequences. Your position is clear, but the supporting evidence needs more analytical depth to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. Transitions are often mechanical or missing, making the flow between sentences feel disjointed. For example, the transition 'This is a concern whereas the major problems also exits' is confusing and does not effectively link the ideas. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the use of 'this' to refer to broad concepts without a specific antecedent. While there is an attempt to use cohesive devices, they are not always used accurately or naturally. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each sentence builds logically upon the previous one will significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on repetitive phrasing, such as 'major problem' and 'major concern,' which appear multiple times throughout the text. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'extent' instead of 'extinct' or 'extinct' instead of 'extinction.' While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated or less common vocabulary limits the score. To improve, focus on using synonyms to avoid repetition and learn the correct word forms (e.g., noun vs. adjective) for environmental terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'major problems also exits'), incorrect word forms (e.g., 'extent species' instead of 'extinct species'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'main major environmental problem'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the errors do not completely obscure the meaning, they are frequent enough to prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and refining sentence structure will help improve your score.

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