Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-30

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)

A few people thinks that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Meanwhile, others believes that there are more important environment problems. I agree that both are the main issues for environmental damage.

Overall, extinct of many species of plants and animals take a troll on habitat likewise other environmental problem such as pollution is damaging climate of the Earth.

First and foremost, environmental problems arise because of extinction of species of few plants and animals. Plants provide shelter from heat, they helps to manage humidity around the area. Plants produce oxygen which is essential for living things. However, due to increase in deforestation many rare species of plant are at loss. And because of this environment has many problems such as after cutting down trees, there is a decline in oxygen level on earth and carbon dioxide increasing which makes the temperature on the Earth very host.

Secondly, extinction of species of animals also cause a damage to environment. Large animals move nutrients across vast distance through waste and movement , feeding soil microbes which helps to grow plants. However, now those animals no longer exists and nutrients present in soil are decreases.

Finally, I believes that not only above problems cause damage to environment but other problems that are more dangerous to the Earth such as pollution is arising day by day in environment. With modern urban life, many transport's engine cause pollution that absorb in atmosphere and leads to climate changes. Whereas, other problem that effecting the environment is usage of deadly chemicals and then thrown into rivers affecting the marine life. Therefore, restrictions are important to save our environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides an opinion, though the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you identify the importance of species loss and other environmental issues like pollution, the arguments lack depth and specific examples. For instance, the explanation of how animals move nutrients is a good start but remains underdeveloped. The position is clear, but the discussion could be more balanced; you focus heavily on the mechanics of environmental damage rather than comparing the relative importance of the two viewpoints as requested by the prompt. To improve, ensure each paragraph provides a more thorough analysis of why one issue might be considered more critical than the other.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost,' 'Secondly,' and 'Finally' to signal the structure of your argument. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where referencing is unclear, such as in the phrase 'not only above problems cause damage.' The transition between the two viewpoints could be smoother to better highlight the contrast between the two perspectives. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they connect ideas more naturally would help elevate the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'extinct of many species' (should be 'extinction') and 'take a troll' (should be 'take a toll'). Additionally, 'very host' is an incorrect collocation for describing temperature. While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'deforestation,' 'microbes,' and 'marine life,' the overall control is inconsistent. To improve, focus on learning correct collocations and ensuring that words are used in their appropriate grammatical form.

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. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, for example, 'A few people thinks' and 'others believes.' There are also errors with articles and pluralization, such as 'transport's engine' and 'other problem that effecting.' While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors in basic grammar prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that verb forms are consistent throughout your sentences.

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

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