Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-24
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 often argue that the loss of some species of plants and animals are the main reason for environmental issues, while others believe that there are more and significant environmental problem. Both perspective have their own merits. This essay will examine both viewpoints before explaining why i believe that loss of plants and animals is more convincing.
On the first hand, those who support that loss of specific species of plants and animals are the significant reason argue that the ecosystem around us has disturbed. The primary reason for this is that various kinds of plants and animals which are already extinct due to any reason like deforestation and industrialization, there habitat is finished and many environmental issues like global warming and improper rain is faced by humans. For instance, Due to deforestation around Nasik district pollution level has increased significantly. Therefore, it is understandable why many people favour this perspective.
On the other hand, opponents of this view claim that their are other important reasons rather than these issues. They believe that other reasons like not using public transport and recycling of plastic are more important. This can be illustrated by increasing water pollution in our local rivers has peaked in these recent years, not using recyclable products and dumping waste in rivers are popular issues. Although the opposing argument has some validity, environmental loss through plants and animals has huge effects.
In conclusion, both viewpoints offer valid arguments. However, I believe that environment is getting degraded due to loss of specific species of plants and animals, also governments should stick to this issue and adopt the alternatives to produce long-term benefits
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention deforestation and pollution, the link between the loss of specific species and broader environmental issues like global warming is not fully explained or logically connected. The second body paragraph is also slightly underdeveloped, as it conflates 'other environmental problems' with specific human behaviors like recycling. To reach a higher band, ensure that each argument is supported by a clear, logical explanation of how the cause leads to the stated effect, rather than just listing examples.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the first hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion.' However, some of these are used incorrectly or sound unnatural, such as 'On the first hand' (should be 'On the one hand'). Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for example, in the second paragraph, the phrase 'there habitat is finished' is grammatically confusing and disrupts the flow. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words will help the essay read more smoothly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher score. You rely on basic terms like 'environmental issues' and 'important reasons' repeatedly. There are also some word-choice errors, such as 'there habitat' (should be 'their habitat') and 'improper rain' (which is not a standard collocation). To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to ecology and environmental science, and pay closer attention to collocations to ensure your word choices sound natural in an academic context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the loss of some species... are', 'there are more and significant environmental problem'), incorrect pronoun usage ('there' instead of 'their'), and awkward phrasing ('It is often argue'). While the meaning is generally conveyed, these persistent errors in basic grammar prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and basic spelling/homophone errors to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.