Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-26

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 believed by a few proponents that the most important issue regarding environment in our times is the decrease of some population in different species of plants and animals. However, the opponents think that there are many other significant environmental problems. I personally agree with the opponents, which will be discussed in the following paragraphs.

To begin with, the primary concern for a proportion of people is the loss of flora and fauna. This is because the wildlife is heavily effected by some harmful activities like air pollution produced through vehicles, water pollution effecting the aquatic life, and practices like deforestation that simply removes the quantity of such a crucial requirement. Moreover, this also leads to scarcity in oxygen which is a fundamental need to human beings. In some way, this is not contributing to the better of the environment and instead makes the life of living beings more difficult.

On the other hand, a part of the population also think that there are greater environmental issues. Firstly, global warming is considered as a major threat to the entire humanity and wildlife. It leads to scarcity of water and food due to overheating of the global temperature. In addition, the natural disasters are also a major problem in todays world. This includes both the man made and natural disasters like drought, tsunami which effects both terrestrial and aquatic life.

In conclusion, I agree with the opponents belief that there are far more important problems besides the extinction of wildlife and lesser greenery. There are many problems that include global warming, man made disasters that lead to loss in human life as well. Furthermore, any issue that contributes harm to all the existing beings like humanity, flora and fauna should be considered a bigger threat than the issues that only effects some of the nature and beings.

AI examiner evaluation

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 global warming and man-made disasters, the explanation of why these are 'more important' than biodiversity loss remains superficial. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or logical reasoning to justify your stance. For instance, explaining the long-term systemic impact of climate change on global food security compared to the localized impact of species loss would strengthen your argument. The conclusion effectively summarizes your position, but ensure that your main body paragraphs provide deeper analysis rather than just listing problems.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'Moreover,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between your arguments is smoother, rather than relying on a standard list-like structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proponents,' 'flora and fauna,' 'scarcity,' and 'terrestrial.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'effected' is used incorrectly instead of 'affected' (a common verb/noun confusion). Additionally, phrases like 'removes the quantity of' and 'better of the environment' are unnatural. To improve, focus on learning the correct verb forms and collocations. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise academic terms will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors. You struggle with subject-verb agreement and word forms, such as 'the most important issue regarding environment' (should be 'the environment') and 'effects' used as a verb instead of 'affects.' There are also minor punctuation and article errors throughout. To improve, focus on proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement and the correct usage of 'affect' versus 'effect.' Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy is key to moving up the band scale.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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