Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Environmental problems in the 21st century have increased significantly. Now, whether these problems are caused by various plant and animal species getting endangered, or if there might be a more important reason than extinction, is up for discussion.

Plants and animals make up majority of this planet we live in. They are helpful to the ecosystem in various ways and are very important to sustain the functionality of this planet. A loss of these resources would mean a definite drop in living standards and significant damage to the ecosystem as well, which would make the environment deplete slowly and fall apart.

While flora and fauna are a crucial part of our environment, there are other factors which may be harming our ecological systems as well. For example, increasing pollution from factories and big companies, as well as carelessness with waste management. Artificial Intelligence company, OpenAI, also uses copious amounts of water with every small function while also polluting river bodies with high-temperature and toxic water. The unawareness of proper cleanliness in cities and towns lead to a more polluted environment and also causes various autoimmune diseases. Global warming, which is increasing at an alarming rate is also caused by the use of some of our everyday appliances.

I believe that while taking care of our flora and fauna is crucial, it is also important to keep in mind the other life-threatening issues around the globe, all of which can be reduced just from our awareness and by taking intentional steps towards a better planet.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the importance of biodiversity and the impact of pollution, the arguments remain at a surface level. For example, the mention of OpenAI is a specific example, but its connection to the broader environmental debate could be more thoroughly explained to demonstrate a deeper understanding. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with logical reasoning and clearer links to the prompt's core question regarding the 'main' environmental problem.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Transitions between sentences could be more varied to improve the flow. For instance, the transition between the discussion of flora/fauna and the shift to pollution could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly repetitive, which occasionally makes the text feel a bit disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'biodiversity' (implied), 'ecosystem', 'functionality', and 'copious'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'make the environment deplete slowly' and 'unawareness of proper cleanliness'. These do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of your expression. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring that words are used in their correct context. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'make up majority of this planet' (missing article) and 'lead to a more polluted environment' (subject-verb agreement error: 'unawareness' is singular). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor slips throughout. To achieve a higher score, you should aim for a greater variety of complex structures and ensure higher accuracy in subject-verb agreement and article usage. The current level of error does not impede communication, but it is noticeable.

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