Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28
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)
Many people believe that currently the basic environmental issue is extinction of several species of plants and animals. While some people believe that there are many other critical issues in society.
On the one hand, the loss of plants and animal species can effect whole ecological environment. Our ecosystem rely on balance of every organism present in it. Every specie plays a distinct role such as pollination or population control. Every class of organisms control population of other specie by predator prey cycle. For example, the population of frogs control the number of insects in an ecosystem and hence crops can grow in a stable manner. Therefore, protecting endangered species are essential for balance.
On the other hand, many other environmental issues such as climate change and pollution are present. Greenhouse gases emission from vehicles and industries are a major reason for climate change. Gases like sulphur dioxide also cause acid rain which results as soil erosion. The emission of toxic chemicals from industrial pipelines to rivers, lakes and other water bodies are detrimental for marine life. A study in 2019 shows that fishes population from rivers were decreased to thirty percent in last three years.
In my opinion, it is true that we have several other problems rather than extinction of species because the issues like soil erosion, pollution, climate change are itself reasons of extinction of species. So if we overcome these problems we can easily save several endangered species. For example when last year government decide to improve environmental measures than many plants and animals species saved from extinction.
In conclusion, loss of species are a huge problem but there are also many other environmental problems. In my opinion we should focus on other problems like climate change and pollution so that we can also save endangered species.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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. The ideas are relevant, such as the role of biodiversity and the impact of pollution. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the first body paragraph explains the importance of species, the second paragraph lists several issues (climate change, pollution) without fully connecting them to the prompt's core debate. The conclusion is clear, but the argument could be strengthened by more specific examples of how addressing broader environmental issues directly mitigates species loss. Overall, the task is addressed, but the depth of analysis is limited, placing it at a Band 6.0 level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', which help the reader follow the argument. However, there are instances where the flow is slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'Every' at the start of sentences in the second paragraph. Referencing is generally clear, but some transitions between ideas within paragraphs could be smoother to improve the overall progression of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'detrimental' and 'pollination'. However, there are several word-choice errors and inaccuracies, such as 'effect' instead of 'affect', 'specie' instead of 'species' (which is the correct singular and plural form), and 'fishes population' instead of 'fish population'. These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more precise control over word forms and collocations.
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, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'ecosystem rely', 'protecting endangered species are', 'loss of species are', 'government decide'). Additionally, there are punctuation and article usage issues, such as 'a study in 2019 shows that fishes population... were decreased'. These errors occur throughout the text. While they rarely prevent understanding, they are frequent enough to limit the score to a 6.0, as the control over complex structures is not yet consistent.
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