Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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)

Whilst many people believe that the prime environmental issue today is the extinction of specific species of plants and animals, I believe there are more pressing environmental issues such as carbon footprint and global warming.

On the one hand, extinction of particular species of plants and animals has put immense pressure on our environment by destroying the balance of a nature process. These lost animals and plants could have positive impact on our ecosystem through proper food chain progress and sustainability. For example, the Royal Bengal Tigers in Shundarban, in Bangladesh, are becoming extinct which has significant environmental impact. Moreover, many plants are now vanishing from areas affecting shelters and increasing humidity.

However, there are many other significant environmental degradations and one of the major problems is the carbon emission which further increases global warming. Traffic congestions, construction of factories and so on release carbon into our ecosystem everyday. As the green house gas is rising, it is causing serious climate changes that are evident today. Bangladesh, For example, experiences frequent flood every year in different regions. Moreover, earthquake has been causing much casualties worldwide. There are reports that these issues will increase more in the coming future. Hence, such devastating life threatening environmental problems are getting more attention day by day. Unless governments step into reducing carbon emission, it is impossible to get everyone on the same boat and so they should take proper regulatory actions to solve these problems.

In conclusion, even though loss of particular plants and animals is a great environmental concern, I think there are more visible environmental issues like carbon emission and global warming that are causing serious climate changes endangering people's lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of biodiversity loss and carbon emissions. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the discussion on the Royal Bengal Tiger is a good start but lacks depth regarding the broader ecological consequences. Similarly, the link between earthquakes and carbon emissions is scientifically tenuous, which weakens the argument's logic. To reach a higher band, you should focus on providing more robust, logical explanations for your claims rather than listing multiple issues.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the shift from carbon emissions to earthquakes in the second body paragraph feels abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring a tighter logical connection between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic, using terms like 'extinction', 'ecosystem', 'sustainability', and 'regulatory actions'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'balance of a nature process' (should be 'natural process') and 'causing much casualties' (should be 'causing many casualties'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Attempting to use more precise collocations and academic phrasing would help elevate your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are recurring grammatical errors. For instance, 'frequent flood' should be 'frequent floods', and 'the green house gas is rising' should be 'greenhouse gas emissions are rising'. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors, such as 'Bangladesh, For example,'. Despite these errors, the meaning is generally clear, and the grammar does not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of plural/singular nouns.

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