Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-22

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)

There are several environmental problems of our time which are affecting the environment. Some people believe the biggest issue is loss of particular species of plant and animals whereas some argue that there are other more important environmental issues as well. I believe that all these consequences are equally important environmental problems. In this essay, I will highlight all these problems of our time.

In this paragraph, I will throw some light on the fact that how loss of particular species of plant and animals is becoming concerning. Firstly, it breaks the balance of nature. When one living thing dies out, it harms the food chain, ruins natural habitats, and stops ecosystems from giving us clean air, water, and food. For example, In the Pacific Ocean, sea otters, sea urchins, and kelp (a large sea plant) all live together. They rely on each other to keep their ocean home healthy. In the past, humans hunted sea otters for their fur until they were almost gone from the area. With no sea otters around to eat them, the sea urchin population grew out of control. Millions of urchins swarmed the ocean floor. The massive army of urchins ate up all the kelp, destroying entire underwater forests.

Apart from losing plants and animals, the biggest environmental problem we face today is climate change caused by global warming. When humans burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, we release trapping gases (like carbon dioxide) into the air. This acts like a heavy blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping heat and changing our weather patterns.

In conclusion, our planet faces many big environmental problems that are all connected to each other. When we change the climate, pollute the water, or cut down forests, we do not just hurt nature—we hurt ourselves. The Earth is a giant, shared home where every plant, animal, and human relies on a healthy environment to survive.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed both sides of the argument and provided a clear personal opinion. The discussion regarding the loss of species is well-supported with a specific, relevant example about sea otters and kelp forests. However, the second perspective—that other environmental problems are more important—is less developed. While you mention climate change, you do not explicitly contrast its severity or urgency against the loss of species to fully justify why some might view it as 'more important.' To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides of the prompt receive equal depth of analysis and that your opinion is integrated more naturally into the body paragraphs rather than just the introduction.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use some cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly' and 'Apart from,' which help guide the reader. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is somewhat abrupt. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow could be improved by using more sophisticated linking phrases to connect the two distinct environmental issues. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be better linked to create a smoother progression of ideas throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'ecosystems,' 'fossil fuels,' and 'carbon dioxide.' There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. However, some phrasing is slightly informal or repetitive, such as 'throw some light on' and 'big environmental problems.' To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid overly simplistic descriptors. While your word choice is adequate for the task and does not impede communication, increasing the variety of your academic lexicon would elevate the overall quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with reasonable control. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'how loss of particular species... is becoming concerning' (which is slightly awkward) and 'trapping gases' (which is not a standard collocation). Punctuation is generally accurate, and your complex sentences are usually clear. To achieve a higher band, focus on increasing the frequency of error-free complex structures and refining your use of articles and prepositions to ensure the writing sounds more natural and professional.

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